Despite my website banner that declares me a “Writer…Runner…Birder,” I haven’t run much over the past five months. A combination of things (notably fatigue resulting from the multiple collective traumas we’re experiencing) has kept me from lacing up the running shoes. Today, I discovered the perfect way to ease back into my much-loved activity and this easy-peasy method requires only two things:
1) a dog
2) snow piles
It goes like this: you run until you spot a patch of relatively clean snow. Then you pause while your canine friend flops onto the snow, plows her nose and forehead through the white stuff (doing the “submarine”), and concludes by rolling on her back to joyfully kick her legs in the air. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Example of Emma’s preferred cooling-down method on hike. June 12, 2019.
My soon-to-be patented method accomplishes two things:
1) it allows your heart rate to calm down so you’re not tempted to quit
2) it cools off the dog and feeds her enthusiasm for the running
Try it, you’ll like it!
Emma and I ran a total of 2.5 miles this afternoon, taking many, many snow breaks. It wasn’t fast and it wasn’t far, but we’re both feeling the good kind of tired that follows a workout.
Emma napping while I stretch, post-run.
Tracy Abell 
Hahah – this is a super fun suggestion – Emma in the snow looks refreshing and congrats on 2.5 miles!
And today – I swam for the first time in a long time!
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Hooray for both of us getting back into former exercise habits! 🙂
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Yes – hurray for that big time ! I am still getting used to it (conditioning) and feel it gradually increasing
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Same here…gradual building of conditioning and endurance. Go, us!
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Woo hoo
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You’ve discovered Interval Snow Rolling Delirious Happiness Training!
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That’s it! Actually, I was going to use “interval” in the heading but thought non-runners wouldn’t get it. Good ol’ intervals. *shudders*
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I need to find a dog with just so that I can try this! Although living in a tropical island may mean snow is an issue too……
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HA! Apologies for the delay in responding. This made me smile and I hope you’ve found a lender dog and some snow to try this on your island! (or not, because that might be really weird!)
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