{ training tuesday: 1/10 edition }

Did you know that speed walking can be dangerous?

Well, it can.

And not just because I have a tendency to trip over holes that don't seem to exist in this plane of reality. Although that doesn't help at all.

My first walk of 2012 was pretty uneventful. A little on freezing side (no really, low 30s), and a bit windy. But fine.

Days two and three?

Not so sporty.

You see, on Day Two, I was prancing along, rocking out to the sounds of Fergie on my iPod, when I noticed some movement off to the side.

Before I knew it, a huge dog came loping out of the bushes in front of an empty house.

Um.

So they say you're not supposed to panic, and stay calm, and above all else, dear God DO NOT RUN, and I think I did ok. There was a clear burst of adrenaline and I'm pretty sure I broke into a fearful sweat. But I held it together and took stock.

The dog had no tags, no collar. Its head came about up to my waist. It was perhaps American bulldog, mixed with some other similar breeds. It looked friendly enough, but on height alone, was perfectly capable of eating my face with very little effort.

I like my face.

I turned and firmly told it to sit. And then to stay. It did neither, but did slow down from trailing me, and gave up after about a house or so. 

The next day, in a completely different area, a completely different dog presented itself. This one was a collie/shepherd mix and was decidedly more territorial. It was planted in the driveway of a house (where I know for a fact it did not live), and it was not a happy camper. It did have a collar, but no tags, and it was pretty clear that it was not going to let me pass.

Both times, I called Animal Control. I was furious about it, too. Our neighborhood is a safe place, and it's horrible that a person can't walk or run without fear of crossing a loose, angry dog, or that children might be unsafe playing in the streets with their friends. I was even more furious that two beautiful dogs were left to roam by their owners in freezing temperatures. It's just not fair to to the dogs and unfortunately, they don't have much in the line of recourse.

I immediately notified my neighborhood friends of the situation, just so that they could keep an eye out for themselves and their kids and pass the word, and I hope that Animal Control was able to locate the dogs and return them to their homes. It breaks my heart to think otherwise.

However, it does lead to some important points about walking or running by oneself, even in broad daylight. 

For example, always be aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye on street names and house numbers, just in case. 

It's ok to listen to music, but don't keep it so loud that you can't hear someone or something coming up behind you. I only keep one earbud in and I don't blast the volume. 

Stay in populated areas. I generally stick to my neighborhood. There are enough subdivisions to sustain several miles, once I start looping around. If I get bored, I head out to the main road, which generally has light-to-medium traffic. In the event of an emergency, I'm fairly confident that I will be able to get help, either from someone who is home, or someone on the street.

Carry your cell phone. You never know when you might need to call for help. It's just a good idea to have a means of contacting the police (or Animal Control) or who knows what else. 

Oh, and never run from a dog. That's pretty key. I'm not sure if the same rule applies to snakes, snapping turtles, sunning alligators or wild boars, but use your own discretion. 

Have you encountered anything unplanned during one of your walks or runs? Tell us about it and how you handled it. And if you know the protocol for wild boar or alligators, share that, too!