Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

December 24, 2024

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Location:

Snoqualmie,WA,

Member Since:

Jan 31, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

Marathon PR: 4:17 at Portland Marathon, Oct. 2007

5K PR 24:37 2009

10K PR 52:58 2010

Have run 22 marathons to date.

No injuries, ever. :)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Qualify for Boston (4:05 for my age/gender) - or, perhaps, to use my desire for a BQ as a way to get in the hated speed work so I don't just get slower and slower over the years. This goal is "under (re)construction" right now, until I figure out whether it is truly what I want. :)

Long-Term Running Goals:

To continue learning about myself and about running, and to enjoy being a fit, happy runner for life. To always know why I am running and the best way to get the most (both mentally and physically) out of my runs. To keep a sense of humor and remain optimistic about myself as a runner. To enjoy running more and more with every passing year.

Personal:

Baby boomer generation. Jogged a little in my 20's and 30's. Started running seriously in 2002. Low-carb runner since January 2010.

I love long runs and cold, cloudy weather. I don't believe in "junk miles." I am an optimist. I adore dark chocolate, fog, my family, and knitting -- not necessarily in that order.

"As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are." -- Joan Benoit Samuelson

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Brooks ST3 Lifetime Miles:						891.35
Vibram Five Fingers KSO Lifetime Miles:						23.77
Brooks ST3 II Lifetime Miles:						965.17
Lunaracers II Lifetime Miles:						198.23
Mizuno Wave Universe 3 Lifetime Miles:						104.14
Asics Piranha Lifetime Miles:						536.83
RunAmocs (Softstar) Lifetime Miles:						16.23
Piranha II Lifetime Miles:						219.53

Mon, Jun 14, 2010

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
3.50	0.00	0.00	0.00	3.50

Everything right now is about the Cat Who Must Be Obeyed (aka Dandelion, Dan-Dan, His Majesty, etc.), so just surf away if you don't care to hear the latest episode. I'm too cheap for therapy, so my couch session is right here...

After he was released from his captors Thursday morning (and I am convinced now that he was taken), I immediately got a collar for him on which I printed our phone number, and a message on the inside: "cat theft will be prosecuted."

After he had disappeared again Saturday, I waited until Sunday mid morning and then went door to door along the territory I know he considers to be "his." The flyer had his picture, the usual pertinent info, and a little blurb about why I believe he was taken by someone. I also mentioned that if the theft was proven, we were prepared to bring criminal charges. The flyer asked neighbors to let me know if they heard cat howling from inside anyone's house, since he does not tolerate confinement. All afternoon, I got supportive and friendly calls from neighbors, saying they are used to seeing him around and will keep an eye out. That was very touching.

By 5 PM he was on the front porch, and he was mad. He came in "talking about it" angrily and immediately started hissing at the other cats. His collar had been removed.

On one hand, I like to believe our actions frightened the thief and that this will never happen again. But I don't have to convince you, I'm sure, that this whole thing has really stressed me out. I don't know what I am going to do, but for now I am keeping him inside and living with the consequences.

I told Mr. Sno that we can just stock up on enzyme cleaner (for the protest-peeing) and wear earplugs to bed until I work out what to do. I was up from 2-3 AM with the cat, trying to comfort him, get him to use the litter box, etc. He cries continuously like he's going to commit suicide if you don't open that d--- door, but when I hold him and pet him he still purrs his little head off, the dear. Eventually I just put the earplugs in and went back to sleep.

So for now, I have all indoor cats, and they are all safe. Might have to learn to live with the price, if we can stand it.

I had a very nice, short run this morning in 48F air under partly cloudy skies. I wanted to run 7, but I slept a little late, for obvious reasons.

Asics Piranha Miles: 3.50

Comments

From KP on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 13:12:22 from 131.163.254.64

glad he is back! what a stressful situation!

From Metcalf Running on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 13:16:50 from 207.225.192.66

Wow that is crazy!! I can't believe someone would steal him, I mean he is beautiful, but that is just mean to take him!! So glad he is home though and hope that you can stop stressing a bit.

From Carolyn in Colorado on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 14:39:37 from 198.241.217.15

The fact that someone removed his collar really makes it sound like there's some guilty human party involved, not that he just wandered off for a while and then came back.

I don't know if this something you would consider or if this would help, but isn't there some kind of identification chip you can have implanted in an animal's skin?

From Barb on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 16:15:54 from 196.200.54.130

Hey Sno...glad your cat is back. This definitely has the makings of a best seller book...with of course, a happy ending.

From DaveL on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 16:21:39 from 209.206.250.53

I'm so glad that you have your cat back (again)! Some cats hate collars and are very Houdini-like in their ability to get out of them. The fact that their heads aren't much bigger in diameter than their necks helps too!

In this case the circumstantial evidence does seem to point to a bipedal perpetrator. I hope they've gotten the message now and will leave your cat (and you) alone.

From Snoqualmie on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 17:19:56 from 24.18.192.33

CofC - yes, microchip ID. All our cats are microchipped, even the two who have never been out. Another piece of evidence against the Good Samaritan theory: any vet will scan a found animal for a microchip free of charge and we have plenty of vets close by (all of whom had my cat's description and "lost" notice on hand btw). If there weren't already several ways to find the cat's home, there is one more. I am sorry if I'm beginning to sound like a bitter old cat-lady, but there is just no way this was an innocent mistake.

From KP on Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 17:29:10 from 65.208.22.26

i think that the people didn't take him to the vet. from what i understand, if the animal is chipped in another person's name, they have to try and contact the "owner" according to their system.

i know this because when i was in high school the guy i was dating had the most adorable dog show up at his house, no tag or anything. they already had 2 dogs and didn't need another so we gave it to the family i babysat for. well they took it to the vet that week to get it checked out and he was chipped! the vet called the owner who came and got him. she was so happy to have him back. he had been several miles from home. poor boys, they were devastated. i'm glad he got to go home though. chipping really is a wonderful technology.

From auntieem on Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 10:27:04 from 24.18.77.246

Well, bitter old cat lady, join the club! I would certainly be just as distressed! What a weird episode. Sounds like foul play indeed. And good luck with the challenge of keeping an outdoor cat indoors. My cats both go NUTS if I don't let them out at first light. I do make them stay in at night because of coyotes - we have so many! I do also have one cat who sheds his collar routinely, ARGH!

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