Everyone has limits, be they emotional, physical or mental.
I remember a speed limit traffic sign in NZ saying ‘It’s not a target’ though it took a while to remember that their signs are in kilometers, not miles.
However, this post isn’t about speed, but personal goals.
We are well placed here as it is just a ten minute walk into town plus we have a supermarket at each end, so we are saving a fortune in fuel by being able to walk to do any odd shopping.
Having discovered ‘the back roads’, it is a 1.9 mile return journey for one, and a 2.98 mile return journey for the other.
Until now, we have only done the shorter one but today we decided to push ourselves and go for the longer.
Having previously walked along the river to the weir, we knew it would be a challenge for all of us, and coming back with a bag of shopping, even more so.
Maggie led the way on lead as we were on the main roads.
She was not good, pulling me left and right to such an extent, that I had to shorten the lead to keep her close, which I don’t normally like to do.
This isn’t exactly her fault, but her breed instincts, as being half border collie, she likes to ‘herd us’, and hates it if we separate. As the pavements here are quite narrow, we had to walk in front of Hubby, so she was forever checking behind to make sure he was still there.
It took us almost an hour to get to the supermarket, where Hubby went in and I sat on the fence, the dog at my feet.
Ouch.
Arranging my backside on the point of a triangular horizontal post was painful, but I eventually found a bony bit (having lost 12 inches from my hips) and was suitably perched.
By the time Hubby came out though, I was a numbass, and it was baby steps for a while as the pins and needles kicked in as we headed for home (cheap thrill if you’re that way inclined and a washing machine on fast spin isn’t handy).
Hubby was growing tired and lagging behind after about ten minutes.
It was too far, so we decided to have a half hour breather in the Abbey Tea Rooms for coffee.
We were strong and did not succumb to the temptation of cake in our efforts to lose some of the weight that has crept on recently. Sunday will be our first weigh in since we cut out chocolate, crisps, cakes and sweets. Bananas have now joined the apples in the fridge to give us some nibble variety (sigh).
On the way back, I saw two dogs playing ‘chase me’ in the field, and it was hilarious.
The greyhound was all legs and speed, but it was wonderful to see how much care it took not to harm the tiny Yorkshire Terrier (complete with tartan jacket) that was darting in and out of its legs.
What made it even more charming a sight was that the dogs belonged to different people, but they had allowed their pets to play together when so often a smaller dog owner will pick theirs up, clutch it to their chests in (unnecessary) protective terror and rush away.
We got home just after 2pm.
Hubby and the dog crashed out whilst I got dinner. Today we had chilli and rice, but I added an extra onion and some peppers to give it a bit more bulk (and show willing in increasing the veg portion steaks stakes).
I have to be honest, my feet hurt, so I don’t think we’ll be doing that run again in a hurry!
pensitivity101 
I LOVE when a big ads dog and a teeny dog play together too! Thank you for sharing ♥
It’s great to watch them. When Maggie was a pup, she thought nothing of playing with mastiffs, dobermans or newfoundlands. In fact, the bigger the dog, the happier she was!
Ozzy loved teeny little dogs, also…he was a sucker for them. 🙂
Aw – at least you tried the longer walk. Maybe in a few weeks it will be easier. Good Luck with the diet, and I am very impressed you did not succumb to cake in the tea shop!! 🙂
I’d love for my LM to play with other dogs, like those you saw. It has taken years for her just to be on a field at dog class, with up to 40 other dogs all off lead, and have her tolerate them all.
Weigh in tomorrow……………….