My new running buddy

It's been busy these last two weeks and I can't believe the summer is over!  My son started back to school (his first year of middle school!) and his Saturday football games also started.  In addition to the normal work day, laundry, housework, grocery store...now we have homework and trying to get back into a routine.  But it will all work out!

The running school is going great.  I have been meeting my group twice a week for runs, but still struggling to get the third run in own my own (refer to the above paragraph).  Most runs have been around 3 miles and my pace is about 10:30 to 11:30 minutes.  Of course, this still includes a few minutes of walking.  Although the walking is getting much shorter. I've been very pleased with my progress and meeting new running buddies!  I hope we can continue to meet for runs after the school is over. Speaking of new running buddies...

We are now the proud owners of a doggie!  Our first dog!  Her name is Bess (we call her Bessie) and she's a lab mix.  We adopted her from the local shelter.  She loves to run in the backyard and go on walks.  I'm hoping she will be my new running buddy for my solo neighborhood runs.  Maybe she will give my the motivation I need to get that third run in each week!  I haven't officially tried this yet, we just got her this past weekend.  Tuesday it poured down rain.  Which also meant I missed my normal group run.  I had planned to go to the YMCA and do some interval training on the treadmill.  But it was just one of those dreary days that I just wanted to go home and not go back out. 

I'm sure I need to do some research online about running with dogs.  I've actually been doing a lot of research about dogs since I know nothing!  Did I mention we also have 2 cats?  This has been a challenge and will continue to be...but hopefully not for too long.  Here is a our newest member of the family.