It took a Labrador

Only the love of my Labrador, Bella, would do the trick.

Okay, so let me go back a few steps and "splain"...Beware this one is going to be a long one...

Today I was all set to get in a long run. I really need to get past this wall I hit.
Since it is so hot, I head off to the gym to go run. I start with a good easy 3 mile bike ride.

No problems, I am feeling great. I hit the treadmill next.

Mile 1 always is the hardest but not today. So I get through 1 mile moving into 2, I can feel my shins but I press on. My ankle is doing well, thanks to the ankle brace I ordered. So I am still feeling good. Into mile 2, and about 1/4 way done and I can feel my hip start to hurt, so I pause the treadmill to stretch... Well I could barely move to do that, my legs were already Jell-O. But I start the treadmill again. I am determined to get past this wall. I just have to. Still doing my intervals I keep going. 2.5 miles still hurting but the pain tolerable... Well that is what I thought; my hip had other intentions...

I make it thru mile 2 and into mile 3 and my hip is screaming at me, I want to cry... 45 minutes running and I get past the 5K mark and so I stop. Mad at myself, at my hip. Disappointed that I couldn’t get there today.

Wobbling over I grab a mat to go stretch my hips.

I barely crawl into the child pose, and I can feel the tears welling up...I tell myself. Don't cry, not here...

I am hurting and angry, and scared. How am I supposed to do 13.1 miles if I can't get past mile 3.5 let alone 6??

The child pose helps a little, so I gingerly turn over and swing my left hip over my right one, stretching as far as I can go. Suddenly a small pop, like the ones I get when I see Dr Maloney. So that was some release. I stretch the other side, and get up.

Still really mad & frustrated, I leave and head straight to buy 2 10lb bags of ice. I go straight home, kick off my shoes & head for an ice bath.

I am still in my running clothes sitting in ice water, crying... Mad, & scared... Screaming...

I call everyone I can, to help me get out of this funk but no one answers... By this time I am in quite the tizzy.

15 mins into my ice bath, I finally get someone on the phone. I got my momma. She is always good when I call her like this. Very soothing voice and just love. Well sure enough as soon as she picks up, into the bathroom walks, the lovely Bella. This really never ever happens. My dogs know that the bathrooms and kitchen are off limits. So she has never ever never done this.

She sticks her big black head into my tub and starts to drink my ice water! It is just so funny I start laughing.

She just looks at me with her big beautiful eyes and just loves me. And then as quickly as that happens, she spots the last "chunk" of ice floating around, I can see how much she wants it... :)

So as reward for her service I give her the chunk of ice and she trots off happily.

I am now left chuckling at my crazy, loving, beautiful lab, and therefore out of my funk. I will deal with my wall another day.

All this time & all it took was the love of my girl. Thank you Bella, I love you too!