CURB: 1. PAM: 0. — When a 35-Minute Run Doesn’t Go According to Plan

Free and I set out this morning to do something we’ve been doing regularly: get outside and move together.

Today’s plan was a 35-minute run.

Nothing extraordinary.

Shoes on. Leash on. Free beside me. Off we went.

And then, somewhere around the first quarter mile, I learned a valuable piece of running advice:

Having big feet is considerably more useful when you remember to pick them up.

There was a curb.

I’ve successfully navigated curbs for approximately five decades, so I wasn’t particularly concerned about this one.

Perhaps I should have been.

My foot didn’t quite clear it.

I tripped.

And down I went.

CURB: 1. PAM: 0.

Knee: scraped.

Hand: scraped.

Pride: questionable.

Free: absolutely fine.

Naturally.

Here’s the evidence…

Not exactly the fitness photograph I expected to take today.

But maybe it’s one worth sharing.

Because there’s something about health and fitness that I think we sometimes forget:

It isn’t always pretty.

There are days when you finish the workout you planned and feel fantastic.

There are days when your run feels effortless.

There are days when you increase your distance, lift a heavier weight, hold that plank a little longer, or finally accomplish something you’ve been working toward.

And then there are days when you get approximately a quarter mile down the road and lose a battle with a curb.

Those days count, too.

The Serious Part: Falls Can Happen Quickly

I can joke about my big feet getting in the way—and believe me, I will—but there really is a safety lesson here.

When we’re walking or running, particularly outside, the terrain is constantly changing.

A curb doesn’t have to be unusually high to catch a foot.

A sidewalk doesn’t have to be terribly damaged to create a tripping hazard.

And as we become tired, distracted, or focused on something other than our footing, our stride can change. We may not lift our feet quite as much.

Add a dog to the equation and there are even more things competing for our attention.

Our dogs smell something.

They slow down.

They speed up.

They stop.

They change direction.

They see another dog, squirrel, person, leaf, stick—or some mysterious object apparently detectable only by the canine nose.

Meanwhile, we’re trying to watch them, watch traffic, keep our pace, manage the leash and watch where we’re putting our own feet.

That’s a lot happening at once.

So whether you’re running, walking, hiking or simply taking your dog around the neighborhood, keep scanning the path ahead.

Watch for:

Curbs and changes in elevation

Cracks and uneven pavement

Tree roots

Gravel and loose surfaces

Wet leaves or slippery areas

Objects in your path

Your dog’s position relative to your feet and leash

And don’t forget one deceptively simple thing:

Pick up your feet.

Apparently, someone around here needed that reminder today.🙋‍♀️

Exhibit B

Apparently, after losing the argument with the curb, I attempted to negotiate with the sidewalk using the palm of my hand.

The sidewalk remained unmoved.😂

But Here’s the Bigger Lesson

I don’t want Doggone Healthy Choices to become a place where health and fitness look perfect.

Because they’re not.

Real wellness happens in real life.

There are interruptions.

There are lousy workouts.

There are fantastic workouts.

There are setbacks.

There are days when the dog cooperates beautifully and days when the dog apparently has an entirely different training program scheduled.

And yes…

There are curbs.

The important thing isn’t pretending those moments don’t happen.

It’s what we do with them.

We assess what happened. We take care of ourselves. We learn from it. We adjust if necessary.

And eventually, we keep moving.

Because one stumble doesn’t mean the whole journey is over.

That’s true on a run.

And it’s probably true about quite a few things beyond running, too.

Today’s Doggone Healthy Choice lesson:

Pick up your feet! Pay attention to the path in front of you. Give yourself permission to adjust when things don’t go according to plan—and don’t confuse one stumble with failure.

And finally, Freedom would like everyone to understand one important detail about this morning’s incident:

She did NOT trip over the curb.

Four legs: apparently superior technology.

Show-off. 🐾😂

Until next time, stay healthy, stay aware, and keep both ends of the leash moving,

Have a happy and healthy tail wagging day,

Pam & Free

Doggone Healthy Choices