Most deserving of holidays, celebrating man’s best friend.
My pup, Ro is certainly there for me – sickness & in health, long hike or short neighborhood stroll, snowy winters or hot smoldering summers – he’s got my back & I’ve got his. His natural curiosity & intense need to protect [us] from neighbors (& dogs) passing our windows at night – HA! – he’s a good one. Love ya to the moon & back Ro Ro 🙂
National Dog Day serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day – for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage.
“Millions of dogs are killed each year because they’re simply unwanted, says Colleen Paige, founder of National Dog Day. They’re unwanted because no one realized how to properly care for the demands of the breed. They’re unwanted because they were bought as a Christmas gift for a child that didn’t keep their promises about caring for the dog…unwanted because they shed too much…unwanted because they bark too much. UNWANTED…simply because someone changed their mind. All a dog wants to do is love and protect you. That’s all. Dogs are amazing, courageous, sensitive and sentient beings that deserve compassion and respect. Please consider bringing what was once considered “unwanted love”, into your heart and home on National Dog Day!”
Ro tug-o-war battle
2016 ‘Stealth’ Fireworks Show
After a 6 mile morning run, the rain came down – and would keep falling intermittently all day.
Started ‘Indoor Activities Day‘ at Purina Farms – cows, pigs, chickens, sheep AND a dog agility show. Touring the livestock barns, kinda like a county fair – a personal fave, tight reminder of my childhood. Lotta laughs, super FUN start!
Lunch at City Park Grill (niece’s workplace), then sported an afternoon of games – ping pong & Uno. Folks rotated in-n-out of both activities all day, ‘til the family’s next gorge session (my people love to eat). Sis’ husband fired up the grill – hamburgers, hot dogs & all the fixin’s…anything/everything one expects of a July 4th celebration. FAANNNTASTIC spread!
Took advantage of a 3-hour ‘no showers’ window & caught a local fireworks display at nearby Memorial Park. Cool summer temps (rare for St Louis), few bugs & no rain – pretty much perfect weather. Think the precip possibility kept a lotta folks home so secured a mighty sweet viewing spot.
Low-hanging clouds made for one of the worse firework shows ever. LOL> No fault of the town itself, just unpredictable weather. Firework launched, blast ricocheted off nearby tennis courts (sounded like sniper fire), then color would illuminate the blanket of clouds above. FUN memory!
Holidays with family, absolutely nothing like it.
-
- my people love to eat
-
- girls ruled the day
-
- nephew talked a whole lotta smack 🙂
Tomorrow: Anheuser-Busch Grant’s Farm
…281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family, named for Ulysses S. Grant who originally worked a portion of the land.
Honoring both the 18th president of the United States and the Busch family legacy, the Farm is a refuge for more than 900 animals, representing more than 100 different species.
Grant’s Farm is the official “prep” school of the Budweiser Clydesdales. The Budweiser Clydesdale Stables are home to over 50 head of Clydesdales that vary in age from weanlings at 6 months of age to retirees of fifteen or older. Anheuser-Busch has one of the world’s largest herds of Clydesdale horses and owns approximately 200 nationwide.
Purina Dog Agility Show
2016 ‘Stealth’ Fireworks Show
Celebrated National Running Day with a 7 mile run – only 2 days after marathoning in Idaho. He’s baaaaack.
Each year on the first Wednesday in June, people across the United States participate in National Running Day. This day was designated as a day for runners to reaffirm their passion for running. It is also a good day for beginners to begin a life-changing commitment to running.
-
- unexpectedly, showed up in an ad for Nebraska’s Monument Marathon
-
- finally, CONSISTENCY!
Run the Year Motto: Run, Crawl, Walk, Conquer, Dominate 2,016 miles in 2016
May 2016 update: COMEBACK month! Consistent training, multiple day run streaks, 2 marathons – and HUGE personal achievement, completed my 50 State Marathon Quest on May 1st in Fort Collins (Colorado).
Positives? Became accustomed to hear the morning ‘ding ding’ text from Carolyn, my accountability partner. 2 time zones ahead in Indiana, she’s already well on her morning run when my 4:30am alarm sounds. Just the kick in the butt, this lazy runner needed 🙂
2 month focus (May & June): CONSISTENCY
Race ReCap: 50th state marathon on the 1st in Fort Collins, skipped a slew of pre-registered runs (completed physical therapy late May), finished the month STRONG with a Memorial Day marathon in scenic Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Mileage ReCap: HUGE – first time running 200+ miles since 2014; ended May at 806 miles (34 miles short of goal).
- 30th consecutive month marathoning. Streak started with my second 26.2, December 2013 in Tucson.
-
- ended May at 806 miles
-
- Milestone 700
-
- Milestone 800
Run the Year – June Newsletter
The theme of this newsletter is love. Love the process. Love the journey. Love the day to day routine that leads to improved physical fitness. Try to focus this month on being grateful, inspired, and truly loving the gift you give yourself each day you choose to exercise. Just like a relationship with a person, you can choose to focus on the positive aspects or the negative aspects of your relationship with personal fitness. Here is the new challenge for the month of June: Love the process. Love yourself. Most importantly spread the love to others.
