alabama master

Made it thru half of a 16 mile run when I got bit by a stray dog. Three minor puncture wounds on my left ankle. I was on Pleasent Hill Rd just north of Old Moulton Rd.(out of the city limits) As I ran past the house I saw the dog in the yard, he was barking and running along a hedgerow of kudzu and I lost sight of him. The next thing I see is him cutting down a trail thru the kudzu to the road and he was right on me. He had his teeth bared and before I could spray him with my water bottle he got his teeth into my ankle. Right at the point where I was bit the road takes a steep decent and I was running out of control down the hill. I was about to tumble head over heels when I veered of into the ditch and made a sliding stop scrapeing up my left forearm on the gravel. There was no major damage done so I ran on about 3/4 of a mile to the water authority where I was able to clean myself up. I was going to continue my run, but thought it best to report the incident so it wouldn't happen to someone else.

I had an officer come pick me up and we went back to the house where the dog was. The lady came out and said "don't worry about this dog, he don't bite", to which the officer said "don't say that maam because the guy in the back of my car was just bit by that dog." The dog had no collar and had no shots, and after the lady heard that it bit me denied any ownership of it. That worked in my favor, as now county animal control could take the dog, put it down and have it tested for rabies.

I got a tetnus shot and a script for antibiotics at the ER. Now I just wait for the outcome of the dogs' rabies test.   

1:07:44/ 7:51

Reviewing my garmin at the point in yesterdays run when the dog chased and caught me, I got my pace down to 4:01/mile, unfortunatly that was total out of control running for about 100 yards, with an abrupt and painful stop, but still 4:01 pace!

A not quite tempo run. I just wanted to get out and pound the pavement for a while to see how my leg felt, which turned out to be fine. At about the eight mile mark I attacked the big hill off vestavia and continued up the Bell's driveway. That kinda killed my avg pace, but it felt good to be able to do it.  1:12:18/ 7:14

37:35/ 7:31

Monte Sano 15K: When I left Decatur @ 6:30am to go to the race the temp was in the mid 60's and slightly overcast skies. As I go 3/4's up the mtn I drove into the clouds and the temp dropped about 15 degrees. The weather would remain that way for the rest of the time I was up there. Running inside a cloud equals high humidity, my bane, but thankfully the cool temps kept me from bonking during the race. I went thru 10K faster today than I ran the Elkmont 10K 2 weeks ago. I felt pretty good throughout the race and kept my pace steady even with the rolling hills that make up much of this course. I did have one mental lapse during the 9th mile and took a wrong turn that allowed two runners to catch up and pass me. I let that effect me too much and was unable to make back the places. My time was better than last years, so that is a confidence booster for my up-coming 1/2 marathon on the 31st. 

 I got some more miles in running back out on the course with Eric Charette to find members of the 1/2 marathon training group and his wife Laura. Then a little over 6 miles trail running on part of the X-Terra 15K course that I wil race on the 25th.