I’m granting myself some leniency here because it’s been a helluva couple months. However.
{{This post brought to you by Cooper getting up and peeing in the living room at 4 AM! If that hadn’t happened, I’d still be languishing lazily in my bed, you know, sleeping instead of writing this post! Thanks, Coop! Way to keep me on task, buddy!}}
Several years ago, I alllllmost completed the C25K training program. It’s a really great program that takes you from not being able to run at all to completing a 5K incrementally and pretty gently. I derailed at the end and kept meaning to start back up but then winter.
Anyways, I know that’s no excuse. So, summer 2016 I repeated the whole program with Cooper. He loved it. We finished it. I ran TWO 5Ks in 2016 and tried to keep up with twice- or thrice-weekly jogs.
Then I derailed in early March. No “winter” excuse this time since that’s when things start getting nicer here in Indiana.
Here’s the truth that we all know yet sometimes struggle to accept:
Exercise is super good for us. It’s super good for our dogs. It’s super good for our bond with our dogs when we exercise together.
The only drawbacks with exercise? It takes time, and it’s hard.
And both of those things–individually or together–are enough to derail the best-laid plans.
Which leads us to today.
Well, actually, yesterday…
Yesterday, Sunday, June 4: The Healthy Dog, Healthy You Challenge kicked off.
Started by my friend Alison at Sarcastic Dog, the challenge inspires us all to walk with our dogs for 30 days in a row. Here’s her post announcing and explaining the initiative: Getting Healthy… Again.
There are prizes (yay!) and a fundraising initiative for Best Friends (double yay!), and you can sign up and get those bullet points and some additional detail here: The Second Annual 30-Day Walk the Dog Challenge & Giveaway! Plus, there’s a Facebook group to connect and compare!
Also–because you KNOW I’m obsessed–my friend Jodi at Kol’s Notes made an ahhhhmazing sticker set for your planner to go with the challenge. Legit, nothing motivates me quite like stickers do!! Check out her post here: The Healthy Dog; Healthy You Challenge (and Free Printable Stickers) and download the free stickers! I’m working on cutting mine out and pasting them into my planner this morning… since I have all this extra time… Cooper.
Want the quick PDF download? Here ya go!
Anyway, for the launch of the program, yesterday I ended up doing a TON of yard work and was totally beat, but Cooper hadn’t gotten any exercise. So, John and I decided to do an after-dinner family walk around the neighborhood. I put Violet in the wrap, and John harnessed Cooper (with can of cheese in tow) and off we went. We hit the 15-minute mark, which feels like a win since that was the challenge… but I know we can do better. So, I set a goal: I signed myself up for another 5k on June 24, so I better stick with it, huh? That’s only three weeks away!
Heck, the sun still isn’t up yet (COOPER), so I might as well round everyone up for an early-morning jog, huh?
How about you? Are you doing the Healthy Dog, Healthy You challenge? Do you have any summer fitness plans or goals? I’d love to hear them and share progress so we can help inspire and motivate each other!!!
Jodi Chick
You went for a jog this morning and I barely made it to the office on time because…balance ? I’m all sorts of impressed by your 5k goals. I signed up for one of those adventure races once thinking I had so much time to prep, actually did nothing and nearly died, so, there’s that. I” sure you’ll do MUCH better.
Pamela
By doing exercise as a family, you all get to get a break from the slog of work. It’s especially important with you working from home.
We get a lot of our exercise just living life–walking 3 miles to the grocery story is a big one. Honey goes along for exercise and Mike keeps her company out front. Best of all, I get the help schlepping groceries back but can concentrate on shopping alone.
Good luck meeting your challenge.
Jan K
I should do this challenge, but I seem to be struggling to just get back into the swing of things and do anything organized. I started the C25K last summer, but never finished it. I really like it too. It starts out so easy and gives you something to think about which I need when exercising. I just started it again and hope to do better this year (which means, actually finish it by fall!). I wish I could bring a dog with me, because that might help keep me motivated. But with Cricket’s arthritis and Luke’s bad knees, it’s a no go for either of them. I try instead to do my run, and then come back and take them for a short walk.
Anne @ HappyJRT
Yup, for a human having a desk job means that you can never have enough exercise before (or after) work. For a dog having a backyard simply isn’t enough, especially if you are a proud guardian of one of the more athletic breeds. It’s not only great for our physical well being but for our psyche as well (“Mens sana in corpore sano.”). That way we burn some calories and get rid of stress at the same time. My darling Jack Russell Terrier Kala would go berserk without our daily rigorous but playful exercise routine.
james
This blog is great. My website is very similar as we promote exercise with you and your dog. 🙂