Little Black Dog

Today I had to do a two-mile run.  I was exhausted all day.  I was hot all day.  I put it off until I couldn't put it off any longer.  I went and found some running clothes and laced up my running shoes.  Out the door I went.  I was grateful that it was only two miles.  I was sweating within the first quarter-mile.  The two-mile runs should be easy.  I think they would be easy if it wasn't so stinkin' hot out there.

I ran to the mile point and then turned around to run home.  I didn't run at the park today.  I didn't want to waste the gas to drive to the park to run and my toddler didn't take a nap all day and I was quite sure she would fall to sleep on the ride there.  That would have been bad.  So, I just ran out the front door to the mile point I had mapped out previously.

Once I turned around and started heading back, I was running through a neighborhood.  I was minding my own business, like most runners do, when a little black dog came running toward me.  Its owners were sitting on their front steps.  I attempted to keep running.  I thought the dog would stop.  The owners kept yelling to me that the dog was friendly.  The dog kept barking and jumping on me.  I was not amused.  I finally decided to run up on to its lawn to see if it would go to its owner.  Nope.  The owner finally told me that it just wanted to be petted.  I bent over and petted it for a few seconds and then attempted to start running again.  It wanted to follow, but it finally stayed with its owner. 

I have mentioned before about my fear of dogs while running.  It doesn't matter to me what size they are.  I  do not want to be bit and/or mauled.  I don't know what is legally permissible as far as defending myself against a dog that is running at me and/or jumping on me.  I need to find out.  I am an animal lover, I cry when goldfish die, and I also found that I cry when the frog that was trying to swallow a goldfish dies too.  I don't want to hurt an animal, but I don't want to be hurt either.  It is always my goal to make it home in one piece. 

I continued on my way home with no further incident.  I was a sweaty mess upon arrival.  It is always nice to make it back home!