They know…

So the other night I went for a run with Sinner (Rediron Cynosure, or Cinnabar if he’s been naughty).

As I have a big run coming up, I decided not to go too far with him.  He’s capable of a half marathon, and habitually I do a very hilly 12km with him around Mt Mee.  Around home we generally do a 10km loop – it’s pretty flat and quiet and doesn’t involve any running over the same path twice.

Well, for once we turned around after three kilometres.  Sinner got quite a shock – ^oo^  – because no dog likes a change in the pattern, and I’m nothing if not predictable.  Once he was over that however, he started bounding along like we were doing speedwork.  I would guess that we were doing 4:30 – 4:15 kilometres!  Who are you and what have you done with the real Sinner?  I guess he suddenly knew he didn’t have to keep such a reserve for the run back – he had seven kilometres of energy to spend in only three kilometres, and he wasn’t going to waste it just jogging!  Anyway, for once Sinner’s run with me was a negative split, that is faster on the second half than on the first half.

I guess if anything it means to me that we should change our runs around, and more than just occasionally, if we don’t want to get stuck in a rut.  The dog was expecting a ten kilometre run and he set out accordingly, to make his energy consumption last for the full run.  When he worked out we were going to have a much shorter run, his attitude seemed to shift, and we had a fun and charged but exhausting run home.  Maybe I should run a different distance more often to keep him guessing and maintain that enthusiasm.  Can’t hurt to try!