"Long legs! Must be a runner..."

It did rain allllll day, but cleared for a little 4-miler this evening. I should have gone further, but I didn't get started soon enough and a 6-miler would have put me into dusk. And I took a friend with me that probably shouldn't run 6 miles yet (Kenda Roo!). For those of you who don't know, Kenda is our puppy. She is almost 1, but I will still call her a puppy...probably forever. She's a red doberman and quite beautiful, but I'm a bit biased. Her full name is Kenda Roo Frist, but she goes by lots of names:

• Kenda
• Kenda Roo
• Kenda Roo Frist - when she's in trouble
• Kenda-Wenda, or just Wenda
• Roo
• Roogie-Poogie, or just Roogie (we don't call her just Poogie, ha!)
• Aroogala
• Pretty
• Sweetie-Petey, or just Petey
• Honey Bunny

You get the idea. We are in love. Pics coming soon!

She did well, like she always does. She looks up at me like, "Can we please go faster?" She runs beside me without much effort on my part until she sees another animal, whether it be a dog, a cat, a squirrel, or a chipmunk. When she sees an animal, she goes for it! This is bad because she is strong and pulls me forward. Don't get me wrong, I can gain control back quickly, but its just that initial jolt that really interrupts the run. Also, if its another dog out on the trail, she wants to try to play with it (she is super friendly, such a social butterfly!). While out for the run, she almost pulled me into a guy that was out walking his dog. It is a problem, I need to anticipate this tug and adjust before she goes for it!

Anyways, I was under 8 minutes per mile at 2, and finished up averaging 8:05 per mile so I think I did pretty well. Given the stop and go with Kenda, I will call that about 8 minute average :) It was fairly easy, although I was incredibly sweaty. My legs felt good, my lungs felt pretty good...I am so excited for my race! I need to think of a better way to put that into words or people that do read this blog (all 2 of you!) are going to quit reading cause all I ever say is that I am excited for my race!

In order to keep you coming back for more, I will write more about Kenda:

At almost 2 miles, a guy rode by on his bike. I could hear him behind me say, "Long legs! Must be a runner..." In my head I was thinking, "umm, creepy, but flattering, so thank y...he means Kenda." Sure enough, he went by looking at her and smiling at her. She KNEW he was adoring her and she jumped up ever so slightly (and adorably) and licked at his hand as he went by. I am convinced that she knows what she is doing and does it for attention. Whenever Alex and I have Kenda out on a walk, she gets so. many. compliments! She's beautiful! Awww! Such a pretty puppy! How cute! And on. and on. and on. I swear, if I was looking my absolute best on the Monon Trail with Kenda, SHE would get the compliments! But, that's ok, she IS so pretty! :)

I'm sure I will include more Kenda anecdotes after she turns 1 because then I will take her running with me more often! I am so excited to have her as a running partner :)

After the run was dinner: grilled garlic & peppercorn marinated pork tenderloin, oven roasted carrots and cauliflower, and quinoa. I love my husband more than words can express (and not just because he is an excellent cook/master griller-but that sure is a bonus!)

After dinner was TV: Chopped, The Office, and Whitney. I must say, The Office was excellent last night! Jim's book was classic Jim/Dwight and I am glad that aspect of the show is back (at least for 1 episode).