Better than drugs... or so I have heard

My plans all along were to blog weekly, but it seems that life keeps getting in the way!!! See, last Saturday afternoon while shopping, Matt and I decided to check out the pet store. It used to be one of our favorite things to do in the Red Deer, but up until last Saturday we hadn't been in the store in over a year. Anyways, we feel in love with a shy little puppy who could win over anyone, even those with a frozen heart. With a discussion over coffee regarding the pros and cons of owning a dog... we decided it was time to expand our little family. Matt and I became the proud parents of little Rylee. We spent the remainder of the weekend trying to get used to having a furry shadow. Sometime around supper time on Sunday night I came to realise what we actually got ourselves into. Gulp!

The running routine that I had become accustom to had to change. Rylee needs lots of attention, especially when it comes to training her. So this week I started running at 5:20 am... a time when most sane people are sleeping, like they should be. I can honestly say, I am not a morning person! I am the type that requires at least 20 minutes to myself before I will even acknowledge those around me. So for me to get up at 5:00 am and be out the door within those 20 minutes is like some kind of a miracle.

The interesting fact is that at 5:20 am while I am pounding the snow outside I am beginning to realise how much I depend on running as a stress release. This past week, especially while Matt and I were on the brink of insanity because of Rylee, running has become my saviour. I can leave the house with my blood well above boiling point and come home humming the last song on my playlist; feeling like I have accomplished something pretty amazing even if it was just 5 km.

This week I surpassed the 100 km mark. My runs have mostly consisted of 5 km's but with a little more motivation, and time pressure, that is going to change. In 4 weeks from now Matt and I are running a half marathon in Edmonton... so unless I want to cry during the last half of the race, I am going to have to start picking it up a little more!