I was giving Reid a back rub when Belle decided that she wanted to take over! 
After doing the half on Sunday and having it be my longest run since September, I planned to rest and recover lots this past week. Well, that plan almost worked out perfectly until I remembered my role as high school track coach Reid and I coach the distance runners for the Dougherty Valley track team. While it’s loads of fun and very rewarding working with these kids, it’s also another run workout for us which can be great or not so great!
Reid and I coach the distance runners for the Dougherty Valley track team. While it’s loads of fun and very rewarding working with these kids, it’s also another run workout for us which can be great or not so great!
Yes we actually run with the kids. We take them on dirt trails, gravel trails, road, and do speed on the track of course. It is such a fun time watching and providing instruction to these boys and girls. However when we are so beat from our own workouts, it is tough to run with a huge smile on our faces as the kids are used to seeing already! HA!
Monday, we were both SORE from the half and thought that a nice 5AM swim would shake off some of the soreness and loosen us up! It kind of helped, but not so much! I was all excited after the swim to hang out with some friends in the hot tub and just chat. AND very excited to head home for a nice, warm breakfast and snuggle up with Belle. I totally forgot that we were going to have to run with the track team in a few hours. Yikes! BUT it turned out to be OK. I guess it all depends on what your idea of recovery is! 
Running on trails up and down the hills felt like “OWWWWW,” but it was so worth it seeing some of these young talented athletes all fired up to start their 1st “official” day of practice. We had some fun runs during the past month, but all voluntary
Running on trails up and down the hills felt like “OWWWWW,” but it was so worth it seeing some of these young talented athletes all fired up to start their 1st “official” day of practice. We had some fun runs during the past month, but all voluntary
The rest of the week turned out to be great with more running with the team and the usual group rides, swims, and runs with a bit less intensity as I am being smart about my recovery! I am all SMILES this week and look forward to a super fun weekend. Hope you all have a GREAT one too! I will leave you with this little clip of some backyard fun with Belle, check out those ‘hops.’
22 Comment(s)
Anonymous said:
So cute, you have the best lab ever!
Marit Chrislock-Lauterbach said:
I agree with the above comment! WOW – super job with the track workouts!! I’ve had coaches who will run with us, and then others who don’t…. I always loved it when the coach worked out with us – it was awesome. One thought… you could always mountain bike next to them on tough days…that way you’re still there, but your legs won’t take such a beating. Sounds like you had a GREAT recovery week! Awesome!!
Haley Cooper said:
I’m even more pathetic – I coach 8-13 year old in cross country and some days I’m too tired/sore to even run a couple of miles with the 3rd graders! Their enthusiasm is awesomely inspiring though. Nice work coach.
Jen said:
I need to find out what breeder you used!!! My Chloe (Pug) is jealous because I just looooove Belle.
Seriously, did you use a breeder?
She is just sooo beautiful and smart and well…perfect!
Glad you had a nice week, have a great weekend!
ADC said:
Belle s gorgeous. Sounds like a good week there.
Katy said:
The 3 of you are gorgeous! Great work coaching.
Charisa said:
So cool that you are working with the kids. I think it’s so great to be able to help others. Definitely hard when you are sore though!! Have a relaxing weekend
D said:
I have the distinct impression that I will be having a recovery week in the very near future. They are so good and so bad all at once. Good thing I’m not coaching any spring chickens these days
GoBigGreen said:
Ok there ya’ go, Belle is back! I went to visit our old dog Iona and she is hurting bad. It was so sad. I took some pics and actually she ended up on top of me ( stole the pose) bc she cant stand up very long:(((
Glad you are doing well and I know that feeling of coaching and not wanting to let those kids down. You are such a good role model and I am sure they learn just by being with you!
Have a great week!
Beth said:
That’s so great that you run with the kids! My high school coaches ran with us and I loved it.
Maggs said:
I love that Belle just lies on top of her human. One of my dogs does the same…thinks he’s a lap dog.
Shan said:
Can Belle come over and give me a massage too?
I love how you and Reid are coaching track – it’s super fun to see younger kids so excited about running, and that you both are out there supporting that. Awesome!
Laura said:
I love that you run with your track kids! It’s so much nicer when coaches do the workout with you.
Kim said:
I guess the overwhelming consensus is that you are doing such a great thing by running with the track team and I agree. That is so motivating as an athlete when your coach is right there. I sometimes wish my tri coaches were right next to me during some of my hard workouts..well, maybe that wouldn’t be good.. I might hurt them. Anyway, hope you recover well and have a great week!
Jennifer Harrison said:
ENJOY your rest week for sure!
Steve Stenzel said:
Yeah, we’re training our cats to give us back rubs. It’s working out about as well as your top photo…
And I always think a good swim will help make me less sore, but it never works!…
Kristin said:
Another inspiring story! Love it. Belle is gorgeous too.
Chloe said:
That is awesome that you get to coach a high school track team!!! Hands down the best coach I ever had in high school was the one who ran with us
What a positive impact you are going to have on those kids!
~Robyn~ said:
rest weeks are awesome! And Belle is pretty awesome too
Junior would love her.
MJ said:
Good for you for getting out there with the kids… it would certainly be easier to post a workout, holding a clipboard and a stopwatch. The kids will work harder and respect you more this way though… (and you get a few recovery miles in
Jennifer Cunnane said:
ENJOY YOUR REST WEEK – You deserve it!
Sarah said:
E, you sound SO happy. It’s a great thing.
Hope you have a wonderful rest week and thanks for sharing a little bit of Belle with us!