I went for a great run on Saturday at Beaver Lake. I ran a bit longer than usual, and the whole run felt fantastic. As usual, I had my trusty pointer with me. He had great fun as well, but he paid for it later. He was so sore on Sunday that he could barely stand. He fell a few times on the tile floor, and fell down the stairs once. It was awful to see.
He was diagnosed with arthritis in his spine about three years ago now, and it’s definitely worsened over the last six months. He’s on anti-inflammatories, but we’ve been a bit lax about giving them to him. We’ll be giving them to him regularly from now on.
He stopped mountain biking with Greg before he was diagnosed, as he just couldn’t keep up. It’s going to be a sad day when he can’t run with me anymore. I love watching him out there, and I love the silent company (for my one reader who runs with me…I love your company as well, don’t worry :)).
He doesn’t know how to take it easy, and it’s hard to know what’s best for him — enforce restricted activity or let him have his fun. The latter will cause him more pain, but restricting his activity is not the greatest option for him either. Nor for us, for that matter.
On a more positive note, he ran with me again this morning at Macaulay, and he seems fine today. Hopefully we’ll get a few more years out of him yet.