Here’s what I’ve discovered about exercise: It is really, really hard to get in shape, but it is really, really easy to fall out of shape.
Unfair.
Seriously, though, it took me and Cooper (well, me… Cooper’s fine…) two times through the C25K training app before we (I) were able to complete a 5k. Then life got crazy, and yesterday we (I) were totally wrecked trying to run less than two miles.
SO unfair.
I want to get back into the running habit. It’s good for me, of course, but it’sĀ necessary for Cooper.
Do any of you love a dog like this: If Cooper doesn’t get sufficient exercise, he goes insane. Like, he blacks out, dashes around the house, pummels the cat, and bites onto corners of things.
He needs exercise to stay sane.
Side note: We’ve always said iterations of, “When Cooper grows up, he’ll calm down” or “Once Cooper matures…” or “Cooper hasn’t grown into his head yet…”
Cooper will be seven in August. I’m starting to think this is just how he is.
So, I signed us all up for a 5k for this Saturday. I thought it would motivate me to get my butt in gear. Of course, I signed up a couple weeks ago and only went for my first run yesterday, so Saturday might be a smidge rough. For me, anyway.
Question: Are any of you guys the person who says, “Oh, I just love running. It really clears my head!” or some similar iteration? If so, I’d love to know if it came naturally, like you just took to running, or if you had to fight and slog and struggle through the early stages to get there?
All this comes to a head because the Healthy Dog, Healthy You challenge is underway. (I shared the start of it and my goals here.) I’ve been lurking in the Facebook group and am blown away at all the awesome progress being made by people and pets! It’s super motivating!
Even MORE motivating than seeing other people’s progress?
Coloring!
Well, OK, not coloring specifically, but here’s my deal: I need to track things. If I’m trying to establish a new habit–say, jogging with Cooper every day–I NEED to document it somehow. As you all know, I’m a paper-and-pen gal, as is my friend Jodi from Kol’s Notes.
She made these super fun, totally adorable Habit Tracker sheets to help keep me going. Instead of boring checkboxes, there’s a dog and a cat version that you get to color. Even if you’re NOT trying to track a new habit, you should totally download and color them anyway. They are just that cute.
The other big thing that will get its own post some day is the training we’re starting with Cooper. I HAVE to track our progress with that because I need to stay on top of it, for one thing, but I also need to see progress visually to stay focused because it’s going to be painfully incremental.
Snag your own:
- Here’s the Dog Habit Tracker.
- Here’s the Cat Habit Tracker.
Honestly! How cute are those?! I feel like I can have a few going at once: one for Cooper’s training, one for my running, and the cat one for the 15 minutes of play we’re trying to do with Newt each day.
Are you participating in the Healthy Dog, Healthy You challenge? Have you set any summer fitness goals for you and your pup? Do you love running (tell me your secrets!!!!!!!!!!!)?Ā
I’ll let you know if I survive Saturday… š
I almost couldn’t finish reading this post after seeing that Cooper is SEVEN! In my mind he is still maybe two years old. Mind. Blown.
But other than that, I absolutely hate running. Hate it. I’ve never been athletic so I struggle with wanting to be fit and wanting to sit on the patio and drink wine. Wine generally wins.
I KNOW! It’s so crazy to me how fast the time goes… plus, he’s just a perma-puppy in my eyes!
And YES to wine on the patio. Now, THAT is an activity I love. š
Oh my, I’d be afraid that my dog coloring pattern would end up being a black lab instead of a golden retriever. š
But seriously, I ran every day for several years (never made me skinny but that’s another issue). What I discovered was that when I had someone encouraging me and trying to make it fun or easy, I really suffered. But when it was pouring down raining or the crack or dawn or something else that added a challenge, I had more fun.
Yeah, that’s something for my therapist. Perhaps I need to ask Jodi to design a habit tracker that squirts ink into my eye instead of encouraging me to color. š
I love it!! Maybe you just need a little added-on adversity to keep it interesting! š I think I might have to try a run in the rain now…
I think running is boring in the neighborhood so I walk because I find walking relaxing. But I enjoy longer runs about an hour where I take Remy on trails. I do that on Saturdays because I have set aside the time. No pressure for speed or distance, just setting aside an hour or two. I enjoy that challenge. And he needs it!
And you’re someone I think of as a pro runner!! I do love your point about running on trails… We so love our hikes, so maybe that’s something I’ll try. Thanks for the inspiration for something new!!
I hate running – always have – but I enjoy walking. And a lot of times I find myself walking FAST to the point where I have to slow down for the sake of my walking partner. And that’s because when I was a teen, I had to walk fast to keep up with my older brother. It got to be ingrained. When Callie was still with us – before her CCL surgeries (and even after her first rehab) – I used to take Ducky to daycare first thing after breakfast. Then I’d take Callie and Shadow for a walk at the park. And Callie would literally pull me over to a bench to sit and rest for a while. I’m sure you’ll do fine on Saturday!!
Anyway, I LOVE Jodi’s habit trackers!! I definitely have to print a bunch of them for when I finish my course and can get back to my life as a retired person. Actually, I probably ought to start using them NOW. But, like Pamela, I’d probably end up with a black Lab instead of a Golden Retriever. ?
I can’t believe Cooper is seven – he still looks like a puppy (well, except for his size)! – and he’s two years older than Ducky!
I’m not a runner. Someone made fun of me when I was younger because of how they felt I looked when I was running, so I quickly lost my taste for it. However, I am an amateur hiker. I love it and hate it. I hate it that it is sometimes a struggle for me for the first 20-30 minutes. After that – I am fine. I feel like it’s probably the same with running for most people (although I cannot speak for others) – there has to be at least one part of it that you really enjoy. Either that runner’s high or the feeling you get knowing you went a certain distance and feel really energized by that – or maybe it’s just the area you get to run in that makes you feel happy and glad to be alive. If you hate every single part of the process – is there really a point?
Ugh! Mean! I’m sorry you had that experience.
I love hiking, too. It’s probably my favorite way to get exercise in! Unfortunately where we are, hiking takes some added effort, driving to somewhere.
I think you’re right that hating it makes it pointless. There are so many other forms of exercise, like riding my bike and swimming, that I enjoy more. But Cooper doesn’t enjoy or can’t participate in those, so I suppose… now that you’ve prompted me to think this through… the reason I stick with the running is because HE loves it. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll love it (prob not…) but it’s his favorite thing, so I’ll just stick with it!
As long as you love Cooper enough to run – good enough. š A lot of people wouldn’t have that kind of dedication.
I only started hiking because of my foster dog – so only about 6 years ago. She was reactive, so we needed to find places where there weren’t a lot of people, so that’s when I started hitting the trails.
I don’t love or hate running. I like the C25K because it’s easier and the switching off of walking/running gives me something to think about. I really, really hope to actually complete it this year. But I only run two days/week, and it’s hard enough to get in the habit of that! I keep plugging away though, in the hopes that one day it will click. I’ve always wished I could be one of those people that was obsessed with exercise, and couldn’t live without it. But the best I can hope for is making my runs, followed by walking with the dogs, a habit. Like a glass of wine every evening is. Right. š