Did I mention it was hot?
Posted By Jon on August 4, 2005
I ran my 6 miles yesterday after work. No, I did not get up early because I’m too damn tired to do that. Plus I wanted to run in the heat because I like it so much.
It was 91F when I left the house, but the sun was low in the sky so there wasn’t too much directly on me. A light breeze, but a hot breeze. Like someone blowing you with a hair dryer.
I brought my fuel belt as always and had it full. I had been drinking plenty of water all day and I usually have a good sodium intake so I don’t worry too much about it.
The run was going well and then around the 3 mile mark I passed a house I had passed many times that had two dogs. Usually, they stay on the porch and bark, but today they came out.
A big black and white long haired thing came charging right into the road (praying for cars to set him straight) and I yelled my ever-so-commanding “NO! GO HOME!” and pointed directly at him. He skidded to a halt on the gravel and backed up to the yard but kept barking. The other one stayed on the lawn and barked.
About .2 miles later I did my turn around and came back past the house. I ran on the other side this time to avoid antagonizing them. But stupid dogs are stupid. Out they came again. The black and white one came from behind this time and I turned right at him and did a louder yell (this time I was really pissed) and he backed right off. The other dog was now at the edge of the road and moving towards me and I yelled again.
“NO! G…uh…go home.”
Dog had three legs.
Ah, he deserved being yelled at anyway. Pack mentality. Gotta nip that in the bud.
To be honest, the dogs are getting more and more aggressive lately. That farm dog at the farm house I like so much even came up to me the other day. He was really close and growling but I think he was more curious. Still it makes me nervous. I think it may be time to buy that ultra sonic deterant or some pepper spray. I know folks who like dogs are probably shocked at that, but I don’t want to wait to get bit before I do something, and the dog’s comfort comes second to mine.
The fun encounter with the stupid dogs got my blood pumping and I ran a bit too fast after that for a while. Then I got an occasional shiver and some goosebumps. Maybe it was thinking about the dogs, or maybe I was low on salt. I was drinking as I went along so I think I was ok on water. It kinda came and went occassionally, and I tried to keep it slow and easy. The last two miles were tough and I tried to stick to shade where I could find it.
When I finally finished then I got the goosebumpies all over and got my butt inside as fast as I could. I drank a pint and half of tomato juice and my chocolate milk. I felt pretty dreadful. It took about 20 minutes before I felt well enough to take a shower. The cold shower felt great and I was surprised to see my face was still beet red when I went to get in it.
I’m feeling ok today, although my right ear is ringing like crazy. I think its stress. When I get stressed my ear rings. Isn’t that stupid? its like Spidey-sense. :D
I have 3 miles tonight but cooler weather is here today so I think I will be ok. And Saturday I will be getting up early for my run so it will be nice and cool for that. 12 miles. Can’t wait!
I sayu get the pepper spray, I am a dog lover (have one of my own) but I HATE when people let their dogs run loose. I have that problem when I run with my dog (on a leash). Stupid people let their dogs run all over, I’m minding my own business next thing I know I have to break up a dog fight. Your personal safety must be considered.
Chocolate milk with tomato juice??? Your kidding, right? THAT’S when I’d get goosebumps!
Talk to me more about the Spidey-Sense. Is it only related to stress or does it work under other conditions as well?
Oh! I am so jealous! I am a runner and am 5 month pregnant and cannot run now. I would have been ok and would have run through all of my regnancy but I was SO FREAKING SICK the first three months that I am back at square one, you know. So, I will come here nd live vicariously through you. If that’s ok? :o)
I had dogs chase me all the time when I was biking in Puerto Rico. Now, I’m a dog person (heck, I’m going to be a VET), but there is something about 100 pounds of barking, snarling dog fury racing after you that is not exactly fun. And hey, I get spidey sense too! Well, sometimes my ears plug up when I over-do it, exercise wise. Sometimes.
Yeah, it’s been an extremely hot and humid summer here in VA. Makes me look forward to the day we finally get air conditioning. I got in a nice run this morning while it was cool, but had to deal with a little heat when I got home and mowed the lawn. Ugh.
It may be hot up there but it wasn’t so hot the stupid dogs weren’t in heat. Imagine that?
I hope the ears stop ringing. Maybe you should just pick up the receiver and answer the call.
I can?t tell?are you being sarcastic or serious about wanting to run in the heat? If you were being serious?awesome! I LOVE running in the heat/sun. I know I run a lot slower in the heat, but it?s worth it. I need to move to California some day to escape the long, freezing cold New England winters. :) I?ll be thinking about you this weekend?I?m going to Hershey, Pennsylvania!! Yumm…
Goosepimples – that’s definitely a sign of dehydration. I’ve experienced that myself a few times over the past month in this heat. And those damn dogs! Even if one of them only has 3 legs. I would get the pepper spray if I were you. That’ll teach them a lesson.
Then again they’re not the smartest dogs in the world ….
I hate people who let their dogs run free. I got attaced too by a furball (small one but boy did it compensate with barking louad!!) few weeks ago and got so shaken I started crying in the middle of the road. Goosepumps must be a male equivalent (for crying).
DH got seriously bit by a Rothweiler in Thailand few years back when we were walking in the beach , and the bite got badly infected in the heat. Not nice.
Dogs. Phht. Would bringing a FLAME-THROWER on your run next time be taking things too far, d’ya think?
Ugh the heat. I can’t believe I’m saying that when all I did all winter was to complain about the freezing cold. I guess I’m only happy running in sring and fall????? Take care of yourself.
Dogs, and worse stupid dog owners that seem to have no control over their dogs. The forest where I run has signs all over the place that the wild animals have rabies and that all dogs MOST be on a lease. I still run across several dogs a week, usually way ahead of their owners, right in the middle of the forest. I’ve almost been bit several times – once the week before my marathon – I swear I would have killed the dog and punched out the owner if it had happened. Where’s my pepper spray and flame thrower?
Okay on the last couple long runs I have done I have gotten goosebumps … I thought I was going crazy cause it was so hot out, it feels like when the kid in the movie Sixth Sense says … they’re everywhere … shiver
As a dog owner, i have no problem with pepper spray to protect yourself. I carried it on walks for years to protect MY DOG from other dogs. But I did hear that some dogs don’t react to it. Indeed, used it once on a large Rotty that was coming towards us and not backing off. She sniffed a little, blinked twice, and walked away. While technically she left us alone after that, I’m not sure she really felt “peppered”. Next time you see your mailman, ask him/her what they carry. Mine showed me his pepper once and affirmed that it worked on dogs. Can’t recall the name though… (i’m useless on a friday morning)…
When I get stressed, my eye twitches. Really annoying.
Read Meredith’s blog for advice on sprays to keep dogs away. She’s having the same problem.
I get chased by a dog about once or twice a month. It’s getting to be a real problem because it has happened on nearly all my running routes so there is no more ways I can avoid the dogs. And I’m scared of dogs anytime and especially when I’m running. I might try a few things like ammonia or going to the pet store and see what they suggest.
Jon, Sounds like those were some pretty aggressive dogs! I am a dog lover/owner, too, and frankly it really irks me that not only are dogs like this bothering runners, but the dogs are at risk too when they go flying out into the road! I live out in the country where no one leashes their dog, so I just sort of learn which houses to avoid. As a nice contrast, when running yesterday I saw a large German Shepherd trotting toward me in front of his owner, and he maintained a straight line and NEVER made me feel threatened. Hope you can avoid dog problems on your long run this weekend!
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