I used the Garmin and the heart rate monitor on Thursday night at CRR, just to have a bit of a fiddle. I’ve been looking a bit online and there are at least half a dozen methods of working out what your heart rate should be, and even more methods of incorporating low heart rate training into a program, it all gets a bit baffling. Anyway, I figured out that I would try and keep my heart rate below 140 (can you figure out how old I am from that?) and gee, I had to go slow to keep my heart rate that low. Which was fine because again, I’m being niggled by sore legs. Sore shins, but also aching calves, particularly on my left leg. I think I’m just destined to be a couch potato and sit around and drink red wine. I must admit, though, my green Asics are getting a bit long in the tooth, and last time my shoes were worn out, it really hurt my shins. I might start wearing the black ones and see if that helps.

We took the kidlets and the big dogs bushwalking this afternoon along the Somerset Trail at Mt Mee. It’s a 13km or so walk, and last time we went, we ended up starting a bit late and turning back half way because it was getting a bit late in the day. This time we went out and ended up doing the same thing, but we continued anyway and the last few km were walked in near darkness. We could make out the trail, Sinner’s white tail and we could see Guinness but that’s about it. The kidlets were a bit nervous, but they did really well to walk all that way. They were absolutely stuffed at bedtime. I think next time we go walking anywhere, we’ll put the headlights in the backpack whether we expect to need them or not. We got back to the car just in time, I think.

I have purchased a no pull harness for Guinness, it goes around the chest and under the arms, and if he pulls, it tightens in his armpits and is uncomfortable. I’m hoping it helps. Mind you, I could get off my butt and teach him to heel. We failed agility the other night because all he wanted to do was play with a Border Collie, and he didn’t drop on the table. I’ve no problem with that, I don’t actually agree with the training methods there, and have been thinking of looking for an alternative. I think the biggest problem I have with Guinness is his sheer exubarance!

We’ve been walking the whippets, they’re very fearful. Barking dogs, cars, motor bikes - all have them trembling and frozen to the spot. I think tomorrow we’ll take them out with the big dogs and maybe they’ll gain a little confidence from them. It’s a bit hard coming from the quiet bush to the ‘burbs with the associated racket.

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