Kendra Babbles

Everyone knows I love puppies.  Big or little, I want to bring all of them home and love them.  (Except maybe a few that were mean to my sweet Tucker).  Last year I set out to do more for the puppies by volunteering for Paws in the City and by also donating to the PITC general fund.  I did pretty well on both accounts, until about September when half marathon training sort of took over my life.

But an email I got last week reminded me that I need to get it together.  You see, when the economy heads south, everyone is affected, including dogs and cats.  Many owners surrender their animals to shelters because they can’t afford to feed or vaccinate them.  I’m so thankful every time an owner chooses to surrender a dog instead of just releasing it onto the streets or abandoning it in a parking lot.  But at the same time, each surrendered dog is another dog that needs a new home.  Another dog who will suffer depression or develop separation anxiety for fear of being left again.  Another dog that an organization will have to find the money needed to feed and house the dog.

So last week Paws in the City sent out a request for donations/volunteers/new foster parents.  Although I can’t be a foster parent because my two spoiled schipperkes will never forgive me, I can donate and I can volunteer.  So I’m trying to get it back together, starting today.  I signed up for a monthly recurring donation of $25, and I’ve emailed the transport coordinator to see if they need help getting dogs home from the adoption on Saturday.

So if you are fortunate enough to be making ends meet right now, consider helping out a cause in your community.  Maybe you love puppies too!  Then consider donating to a no-kill animal shelter.  Puppies aren’t your thing?  Food banks are in serious need of donations of goods and dollars.  Don’t have any spare cash?  Many organizations need volunteers right now, so check around in your church or community for opportunities to help out that won’t cost you a dime.

I promise the rewards for volunteering and donating are 10 times better than you can imagine.

*Dora the Explorer episode title.  Dora loves puppies too.

I ran the 2 miles test in 17 minutes and 57 seconds.  That’s an improvement over the Jan 7th test where I did it in 20:36. 

I ROCK!!!!

That is my best explanation for why I haven’t blogged for over a month, again.  I have been in a Supermassive Black Hole.  Not true, you say?  Well, no.  But I like the song and it sounded like a good title for today.

Saturday morning I ran my first loop of the lake for 2009.  It’s about 9 miles depending on the route you take.  It’s the farthest I’ve run since my awesome finish at the White Rock Half Marathon.    My time was pretty awesome too, averaging just under an 11 minute mile.  Of course I did not count the 2 Gu stops in that time total, so that probably helps.  :-)  While I was running I realized something.  I’m a slow runner.  An 11 minute mile is not speedy.  People finish full marathons in the time it takes me to run a half.  But I’m totally fine with running slow - I’m still shocked that I’m even out there running in the first place!  Of course I want to eventually be faster and have a consistent pace each week, but I’m not aiming too high.  I’m just so happy with being able to keep moving for 9 miles.

But what I don’t like is being the slowest in a group where they won’t just leave you behind.  It would be fine if they would just listen to me and keep going, but someone always wants to stop and wait for you or make sure a coach stays with you.  There is nothing as awful as being the last one to a water stop - especially when everyone has been there for at least 5 minutes.  I’m totally fine with being in the back, just turn around every now and then and make sure I give you a little wave or that I’m at least still standing.  :-)  Just please stop sending the coach back for me!

* Muse