BOXER ADVENTURES

 Booker and I ran 12 miles today.  That is Booker's longest run! As you can tell, he was super impressed 😅😂 We took a different route today to add in the miles.  It brought us down some rural roads that Booker has  never been on before.  We made our way down to the village and ran on sidewalks.  It was a different experience for him and he was pretty fascinated.   It was chilly but not super cold and very sunny and there were a lot of people outside putting up their Christmas decorations.  People waved at us and Booker did get a little distracted a couple of times but generally did great! I thought our run was going to be spoiled as only 1.5 miles from home 2 neighbor dogs - both very large and obese labs came at us. One was snarling and chasing after Booker - who of course - was attached to my waist.  Fortunately they went back to their owner without any damage and we carried on.   Next stop?  A 1/2 marathon run!!

 Booker and I got a long 10 mile run in this morning.  Sisko's CCL seems to be slowly, and I mean SLOWLY healing.  It's so hard because he clearly wants to run, walk and play, but he still has a noticeable limp.  He looked so pitiful this morning when I took Booker out and told him he had to stay.  But he is putting weight on it despite the limp and doesn't seem to be in pain, so I'm hopeful it will heal. It was a cold run, but we finally got some sun. Then this afternoon, we went outside for a while so the boys could try on their new Christmas scarves .  Sisko always feels so proud when I put clothes on him.  But Booker was only interested in attacking the ends of the scarf!

 We got a dusting of snow last night and I am not impressed! It's been cold, wet and crappy all week and Booker was just nagging me this morning.  So despite my hatred of the weather, I had to get him out for some exercise. We were one of the only brave souls on the trail this morning, and Booker didn't seem at all bothered by the cool air. I told him it's pajamas and watching football for the rest of the day!!

 Geez. Yesterday I thought I was doing a good thing for Sisko.  He had a great time on our trail run.  We got back from our run and he happily jumped into the car.   We got home and he and Booker got some canned food and then they both took a nap while Marc and I had lunch.   After lunch, Sisko stood up and yelped loudly.  He completely held up his back left leg and was clearly in pain. CRAP.  He clearly re-injured his CCL.   I was initially worried that he ripped it completely.  I have talked before about my reluctance to put him through surgery.  If that wasn't true before it is REALLY true now that he is 9 years old.  The recovery time would be more extended and the risk of tearing his other CCL goes way up. I gave him some dog aspirin and by later in the day he was putting a tiny bit of weight on it which makes me hopeful that it's just re-aggravated, not completely torn.   I also started doing the light...

 I can't believe Sisko is 9 years old!!  It feel like just a couple of years ago when we picked him up and he was just a little bugger! Yesterday I had a 10k race and dogs were not allowed.  The look of betrayal from the dogs as I dressed in my running clothes and left without them was terrible. So my plan today was to do a short run with both of them and run some errands.  I got them in the car and prepared to head to the regular paved trail we run.   But I looked at the birthday boy who much prefers off leash wooded trails and so I made a last minute call and headed to a state park a ways from us. It was chilly but so peaceful running through the woods.   The dogs had a blast and I ended up doing several miles more than planned.  I am not a trail runner and wiped out once.  When they noticed me laying on the ground they were delighted and made sure to tackle me and lick my face assuming it was a great game! We stopped for some grocerie...

 Unfortunately, it's that time of year.  It's starting to get dark early and it's going to be way worse when the clocks fall back! Tonight it was getting dark AND a storm was on the horizon.  I was lucky enough it win a lighted collar so I put that on Booker and wore my own Noxgear lighted vest for our run tonight. I would like to keep running after work but I hate the cold and the dark.  It also makes me nervous to run on our road since there is no shoulder on the road.   So for now we'll try to light ourselves up....

 Time has a way of just flying by. I remember picking Booker up as just a little tiny pup. I took a pic at the beach yesterday and it reminded me of one of his first walks...