It’s been 3 months since I last gave you an update on my running so just in case you thought I forgot…
Things have improved slightly and I say slightly because there have been far too many days of no running which is not good, especially around this time of year with all the festivities and celebrations with family and friends.
Dogs, oh give me strength, are still a problem. I do not understand what the problem with some dog owners is. I know I get all frothy about dogs and carry on a bit but it really is a problem. I recently rang an owner after having nearly been attacked by his dogs 3 times! The last time it happened his labrador chased after me like a rabid monster – I stopped dead in my tracks and put my arms up in the air with a questioning gesture at the owner as he casually stood in his driveway and watched his dog nearly knock me off my feet. I honestly believe he found it amusing. I was petrified as I am inherently scarred of dogs I do not know. He claims they have never bitten anyone before or is it yet!
Interestingly, I spoke with a doctor and he said considering my heart condition, he is amazed I am running at all. Seeing as my pulmonary stenosis (murmur) which I was born with is mild I thought it would not affect my running at all but clearly it must so I don’t have to beat myself up about my improvement or lack thereof any more. Well it’s a great “legitimate” excuse.
A quick medical lesson…
Image sourced from Google
Pulmonary (valve) stenosis is a condition in which a deformity on or near your pulmonary valve, the valve that influences the blood flow from your heart to your lungs, slows the blood flow. Adults occasionally have the condition as a complication of another illness, but mostly, pulmonary valve stenosis develops before birth as a congenital heart defect.
Medical lesson over.
Other than that, I am enjoying my running when I can get out and have changed my route slightly to avoid as many dogs are possible.
Has your exercise regime also taken a knock this festive season?
Just in case I don’t chat with you all before Christmas, let me wish you all a wonderful, blessed and happy festive season with my annual Christmas message:
What is Christmas?
It is tenderness for the past,
courage for the present,
hope for the future.
It is a fervent wish
that every cup may overflow
with blessings rich and eternal,
and that every path may lead to peace.
– Agnes M. Pahro
The Complete Book 
I just love the the poem Mandy :). I’m happy you’re still running and still finding yourself safe while doing so. Merry Christmas to you and your family 🙂
Kay, hope you had a wonderful and happy Christmas. I need to catch up with everybody again. Have a wonderful day. 🙂 xo
I have a heart murmur too.. SUCH a bore.. I can have no elective surgery so no implants for me! When i walked i used to squirt dogs in the face with my water bottle (or water pistol) .. that worked, the other one.. my favourite .. was to snap open an umbrella in their faces.. shout at the same time and soon you will train them not to chase you.. what an arse that guy was.. water pistol him as well! c
Oh my goodness, what are the chances of us both having heart murmurs. I don’t reckon you would like right with implants anyway so alls good. 😀
I am off to invest in a “running” water pistol right now. Have a beautiful day C. 🙂 xo
Improvement is improvement, however slight it is!
Have a happy holiday season, Mandy!
Angie
Angie, thank you. You are so right. Hope your holiday season has been lovely too. 🙂 xo
I think it’s wrong that he let’s the dog chase you. In Gordons Bay its against the by laws to allow your dogs to be out of your property in those circumstances. Have a super Christmas Mandy xxx
It is against the by laws here too Tandy. I have even gone so far as to put excerpts of it in our local publication but people just don’t care.
Hope you had a lovely Christmas. I am so far behind with everything. Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
My running has totaled been curtailed the last 2 weeks, first it rained for a week, and then it was just plain muggy and now I’m out of the habit and its Christmas. How many excuses is that? I know what my new years resolution should be. Merry Christmas
Hi Nicola, now, hang on a minute, those are all legitimate reasons not excuses. 😀 Oh we would make a fine pair. hee hee. It is pouring with rain today and looks like it is set in for 3 days so I couldn’t possible run. Oh but hang on, I do now have the stand for my bicycle so I could do that….
Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by. 🙂 xo
Ooh no,..bad dogs & bad dog owners are the worst!! xxxx
A lovely beautiful christmas message too! xxx
You are so right Sophie, it is the dog owners. We can’t really blame the dogs.
Hope you had a wonderful and happy Christmas. 🙂 xo
I had & I hope you too, also A Happy Fun, culinary & mostly healthy 2015! 😀😀😀
I did too thanks Sophie. I am looking forward to catching up with your posts again soon. My holiday is somewhat extended this year. 🙂 Have a wonderful and happy day. 🙂 xo
I used to have a regular practice of running, but once I traded the office life for farm life I quit–as I get plenty of exercise now just doing the farm work. Glad you’re hanging in there. I enjoyed using my running-time to think or listen to music without distractions. Having to dodge dogs would spoil that. Hope that doesn’t continue to be a problem for you.
All best wishes for a very Merry and joy-filled Christmas!
Bill, you have the best form of exercise. I too love getting onto the road to unwind or to regroup as it were. Here’s to my runs being dog free. Hope your Christmas was as lovely as ours. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
Merry Christmas from Duluth, MN w/ LOTS of love. xxx
Late Christmas blessing to you my dear Kim. Hope you and the family had a wonderful day. 🙂 xoxoxo
Merry christmas to you too! I know what you mean about dog owners, I had a guy with 3 small rats yapping at me. In the end I just said FFS, will you get them away from me. Not nice I know but I’m sick of stupid dog owners.
So pleased I am not alone with the dog problem. Was starting thinking it was just me! I have now taken to running with a stick which seems to help with a few of the smaller rats. Hope it will keep the bigger ones away if need be. Enjoy the rest of the holidays and thanks for stopping by. 🙂 xo
You take care Miss Mandy what with rabid dogs and a dogdy ticker, sounds like a dangerous sport to me 😦 Have a great Christmas, all good wishes to you and Pete x
Aww, thanks Tanya. The darn dogs are more of a worry for me than anything else. The ticker, well that will be just fine. 😀 Hope you had a beautiful Christmas and best love filled happy wishes for a magical 2015. 🙂 xo
What a lovely poem. I’m sorry to hear about your heart condition. And about the dogs! I’ve never had a problem with dogs chasing me when I’ve been jogging. Maybe the laws are different here because unless you’re at a dog park, all dogs have to be within your own property or on a leash. Merry Christmas to you and all your family xx
The laws are exactly the same here Charlie, just seems people chose to ignore them! I have had one family fined by the municipality who also insisted they put up additional security to keep their dogs inside their property. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I have really missed reading your posts. Hope to catch up soon in the New Year. 🙂 xo
You are amazing to be so committed to running despite this setback, I support you all the way! Keep it up!
And Merry Christmas to you as well! 🙂
Happy Holidays!
Choc Chip Uru
Aww, thanks CCU! Hope you have been having the best holiday and wishing you a wonderful and happy 2015. 🙂 xoxo
I love your Christmas wish. I hope you enjoy the holiday with your family…may it be everything you wish.
Karen, thank you! Hope your Christmas was special too. 🙂 xo
Oh, don’t get me started on dogs! I take little Bella to the off-leash and some dogs are just so poorly behaved! She jumps to get picked up when some dogs are too aggressive.. and their owners say they are just “playing”.. right! I hope you keep up your running, it’s so good for you. I do a little run/walk every now and then for a change from bike class and love it.. I wish I could just keep running and not walk, lol. Wishing you and your loved ones a very blessed holiday, Mandy!! xx
Oh Smidge, I am sorry you also have to suffer though irritating dog owners – it really is so unnecessary. I also used to do a run/walk until I was fit enough to run all the way.
Hope you and yours had a beautiful blessed Christmas and wishing you much love and happiness for a wonderful 2015. 🙂 xo
I can honestly say, Mandy, that my exercise regimen has not changed one iota with the coming of the holidays. I still drive by the gym at least 3 times a week and I’ve never felt better. I do hope the dog problem can be resolved. This is why Max is never off-leash in an open environment. He’s never hurt a fly but that means nothing if he, for whatever reason, acts out. An ounce of prevention …
I hope you both have a most happy Christmas, Mandy, and a wonderful 2015.
John, you make me laugh, out loud, which is wonderful. Thank you so much for that. Absolutely, one ounce of prevention but clearly that is only for the very few. Hope you had an awesome Christmas and here’s to 2015 being an incredible year for us all. 🙂 xoxo
May your cup overflow now and all the year through, my sweet! ❤
My dearest Kath, may you receive tenfold all that you wish for me. 🙂 xoxoxo
Belated Happy Christmas – looking forward to more of your lovely posts in 2015
Belated Merry Christmas to you too Sally and Happy New Year. Thank you for your lovely words, I am looking forward to your incredible posts in the coming year. 🙂 xoxo
I think you beat yourself up too much over your running. GIrl you run more than I do and yet I would love to run more I just can’t find the time. I am proud of your running accomplishments:) Hope you had a great Christmas and here is to a Happy New Year!
Aww, Belle, thank you so much. I hope you and your family had a beautiful and blessed Christmas. Looking forward to chatting more in the New Year. 🙂 xoxo
Hi Mandy,
I hope you have a great 2015! I also wanted to thank you, it appears that you were the top commenter on my blog, thanks for your support and encouragement.
Lori
Hi Lori, wishing you everything of the best for a magical 2015. How lovely to be your top commenter, or maybe I just talk to much. Hee hee. 🙂 xoxo
Sooo… its a little (lot) belated, but…. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year my lovely friend across the oceans. Hope you had yourself a wonderful Christmas, and that Santa spoilt ya big! 🙂 Well my holidays are nearing an end, upshot… I have a steady internet connection. LOL! I am trying to enjoy the now, but really, this travel has totally got me ready for the adventures I plan this year. I can’t wait to see you! Let the countdown begin – 270 days (give or take a few). Lotsa hugs coming at choooo. xoxo
I have just come back from reading your latest post – what a brilliant time you are having on your holiday. Would love to join you for a cocktail but alas it is a little too far away. Woohoo, we are officially counting the sleeps – can’t believe it! Hang fire, it is now 268 cause your comment was from 2 days ago. 😀 Enjoy the rest of your brilliant holiday darling and see you soonish. 🙂 xoxoxo
Keep running and wishing you more miles to cover this year! To a healthier 2015!!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Aww, thanks so much – your kind of motivation will keep me running for ever. Have a beautiful 2015 ahead too and looking forward to catching up from next week. 🙂 xo
Happy New Year Mandy! I know how frustating it can be when dogs are not behaving and they are left off the leash. I used to run with pepper spray when I lived in the States and I used to use it, if need be. Better to be safe then sorry. I have a little 10 pound puppy and I don’t let him off the lead as it is too busy and if a big aggressive dog comes around I can just scoop him up. Living with any medical condition has its challenges but you are strong and I bet this year will be filled with fun runs. Why am I not getting your posts by e-mail? I will sign back up… Take Care, BAM
Hi Bam, oh no, I am so sorry you aren’t getting my email notifications of post. Hope signing up again has worked. Will get a new post out ASAP. Super extended holiday with Pete being home. I tried pepper spray before and the dog just sneezed and kept coming. Might have been a dud spray – here’s hoping it wont’ happen again.
I am looking forward to catching up with you this year again. 🙂 xo