9:00/9:02/9:04/9:16/9:02/9:12/9:37/9:41/9:05/9:53/10:19/10:04-- It was tough week for me. This is a busy time of year. Luckily Catherine came down and ran with me. It was so great to see her. I'll see her more when we're getting ready for Saint George. Today, I didn't take my dogs this hoping to appease the thousands of old and grumpy people on the trail on this lovely Saturday morning (it's usually pretty crowded on weekends). Ironically, we never saw anyone the whole first 8 miles (except running past Sasha and Jeff). Then just as people were getting out around 7:00, this stray dog started running with us. She had a collar, but never left us for 4 miles-so everyone thought she was mine. I got all the same glares and she wasn't even my dog! If they were going to glare at me anyway, I should have just brought my own dogs. I can't believe I sacrificed my dog's morning run, only to be glared at for someone else's dog! At the very last, the meanest, scariest lady of all ran past that dog (who was standing in the middle of the trail watching people go by) while I was "icing" in the river. The lady turned and glared down the river bank at me and said "A leash would be nice!". I thought about yelling up at her "It's not my Dog!"--but then started thinking. Just get over it lady--that dog is not barking, or even in your way. In fact, maybe people like you shouldn't venture outside if you are inconvenienced by small children, strollers, dogs, or anyone who doesn't wear a straightjacket. I understand traffic rules where there are bike lanes and cars. I would never bring my dogs to the other end of the trail without a leash. But are we all so inconvenienced by each other, the only place to feel a little freedom is in the wilderness or out in the country? I guess I'll be the first one to be arrested when the leash police show up next week. Personally I think being conscientious about letting people pass, training your dogs to heal and sit, is 100% better than a leash--especially those retractable ones. I choose to live here so I could use this trail to run and walk my dogs. If you don't like it, there's plenty of trail on the other end of the canyon you should use. Besides which, I feel personally responsible for making the trail a safer place for others by bringing my dogs, can of mace, and a general bravado towards the perverts and drug dealers. I've run off so many undesireables in the past 10 years, the police know me name and have my phone number. I feel my vigilantism has paid off. Creepy stuff has become less frequent in recent years. I refuse to give up that outdoor space to hobos and high teenagers. I did that so that me and that up-tight lady could also enjoy the bike trail with less public nuisence. Man, two long runs in 6 days, and 2 nights of not sleeping more than 4 hours has really wrecked me. Maybe after a nap I'll feel more civil.
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