As I left the house this morning for a trail run at Kennesaw Mountain with Stetson, the music on Symphony Hall drifting over the speakers in the truck was primarily vocal, and I don't like classical vocals (unless I'm actually at the Opera). So I pressed "The Blend" on my entertainment system and easily slipped into the groove of current songs.
Approaching Burnt Hickory Road off Barrett, Katy Perry came on with "Roar". My index finger went into automatic and began pressing the volume increase button, until I caught a glimpse of Stetson in his crate behind me. No doubt he was not enjoying the tune as much as I was, but I started singing along at the selected volume and before the song finished we were in the parking lot at the trail on Burnt Hickory. It was time to change focus to the run.
We set into an easy pace and cruised up the hill until my heart rate exceeded 171, I backed down and took it easy until the rate came down near 160 and then picked the pace back up. Continuing this pattern we quickly were at the bridge. The remainder of the run I was balancing a heart rate of 171 to 184, although my monitor clocked the fastest rate at 190. I wasn't winded hard and neither was he, so we just kept going.
There are so many things that are starting to meld for as as partners. He responds to my lag on the back end of the lead and slows without my having give him a tug. I've begun to trust him as a partner and don't force him to slow down as much on the downhill slopes anymore. He is the first dog I've run with that I can count on to respond without some degree of force and I think that is contributing to my ability to increase speed and endurance at good increments.
Cheatham hill was crazy muddy today. There were a lot of horse tracks and they really dug up the mud in many places. I misstepped once and was surprised at how my shoes instantly became significantly weighted down with mud packing the tread.
About a tenth of a mile after the turn around, I stopped to give him water, but he wasn't interested. He just wanted to go today, no messing around, even with all the horse poop. We were both pretty much dripping in mud when we finished. I guess my new Solomon's are truly broken in now, they look like the belong to a runner. Barn dirt from agility is just dust in comparison to the red clay from the trail!
Statistically, I set a new personal best on the mountain. My pace was just under 11 minute miles and I burned 1053 calories. The memory will dance in my head until the next record setting endorphin release. I bet those passing us on the trail could hear my soul, it roars...
"...I see it all, I see it now
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar..."
Kathy Perry "Roar"
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