Buck Hales

My goal is to break 20 minutes in a 5K someday. I got 40 seconds closer this weekend. Over the last 3 years I have been barely breaking 24. On Saturday in the Bark in the Park, I ran a 23:10, and felt as though I had much to spare. Of course running with Cooper really helped.

We arrived just moments before the start of the race having picked up our packets the night before. There were an unbelievable number of runners and dogs, some 2000 dogs in all. Amazingly calm despite all that dog energy. It was cool but crisp, a great day for a run. We took some stride outs but barely got warmed up before the race started. We wedged in on the start line knowing we would get buried if we went around behind. I have never been so close to the front of such a large race before. Cooper loped along, very distracted by the vast numbers of dogs, runners and spectators. We pressed ahead coming to mile 1 at 7:18. Around the park and a stops for water-- in and out-- mile 2 at 7:38. We pressed on, I felt great, and loping along beside my tall dog, then some faster runners caught us. Cooper wasn't going to be passed by some little wirehaired terrier, no way, even though the person attached to the other end of the leash was some skinny guy. So, off we went, Cooper surged ahead, I kept up with him, and picked up the pace. Mile 3- 7:20. We were in a full out kick to the finish when we caught up with a comely lass being towed to line by her Jack Russell terrier, Cooper decided to make a sharp left turn to socialize with this dog, nearly costing me my feet. I reigned him in; we finished our kick and crossed the line at 23:10. Probably the most exciting thing about the whole race was watching the channel 5 news on Saturday night and seeing the Cooper beast and yours truly go dashing past the camera. All day Sunday Cooper was strutting about the yard styling, knowing he was now a TV star.

Miranda accompanied Karen around the course and though Karen claims she shamed her with her 30+ time, Miranda didn't care. She gladly accepted her bag of deluxe dog treats samples of Iams, a hot cup of Seattle's Best coffee (which I drank for her), and bagels with cream cheese. After the awards ceremony we joined some 50 other dogs on the beach for some Frisbee fetching, wave crashing and generally good old dog fun.