Mad Dog Owners and Confused Squirrals

4.45km Park Loop in 21:12.

Whilst running along the Oak Walkway, only 700 metres into my run, I saw two dog owners walking their dogs. The dog owner heading towards me had stopped, put his labrador on lead, and placed his dog on the opposite (grass) side to him. This was in response to a boxer dog bounding towards them.

The mad owner with the mad boxer dog simply did not respond and casually continued to walk towards them with her dog bounding in all directions.

When the two owners were level with each other, the boxer dog bit into the labrador's backside and the owner of the labrador had to yank his dog away. The owner of the boxer dog did not appear to apologise and simply pulled her boxer away before releasing it once again.

At this point, I was almost level with this stupid mut, so I took a wide birth onto the muddy and wet grass but continued to run. I passed the mad dog. The mad dog then gave chase after me whilst barking in my direction and at me. When it came right up to me I was forced to stop running for my own personal safety!

The mad dog owner simply called its mad dog and did not apologise to me either. The dog bounded back once again. I continued to run but not at full pace just in case the mad dog thought it should have another go. I turned and looked at the mad owner and said, "Please keep you dog under control! Keep it under control!". She just looked at me as though I had spoken in a foreign language.


When running down the Pewterspear Garden Path, which was extremely wet, slippery, and muddy, a squirral ran directly out of the undergrowth then saw me. Startled, it just stopped directly ahead of me. I had to slow down, otherwise there was a serious risk that I would tread on the little creature. Confused and scared, the squirral ran to my right, just as my slower paced right foot hit the ground, he then changed his mind and darted in front of me to the left, just as my left foot went down. I had to stop, otherwise this squirral was not going to see Christmas.

The squirral just froze. Realised I had also stopped. Panicked. Then shot left into the undergrowth, behind a tree, before scaling it.

I set off once again, following my second forced stop in my short run.


The Stats (including two forced stops)

Time: 21:12
Distance: 4.45km (2.77m)

Average speed: 12.594 (7.826mph)
Average pace: 4:46 per km (7:40 per mile)

Heart rate: HRavg 161, HRmax 174, and 320kcals