Inspiration

Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go - T. S. Eliot

Running Hazards

Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, just not so much when they're off leash and I'm running.  Sunday morning I was out for my usual 10 km run along the Beltline.  If you're not familiar the Beltline it is a lovely wooded path that stretches from Mount Pleasant Cemetery and Yonge, across to the Allen Road.  It's an old railway line that the city filled in with dirt and turned into parkland.  It's great for running, shady, easy on the knees and away from traffic and pollution.  So I'm about midway through my run and these two dogs are off leash in an area that is NOT an off leash area.  Just as I run past them one decides to chase the other at top speed and both plow into my legs knocking them right out from under me and I land flat on my back and my left palm hits a sharp rock.  You know it looked bad when you can hear a gasp from the onlookers! One of the owners was kind enough to help me up and check that I was ok and I went on with my run.  It took another couple of kilometers for me to notice the blood dripping from my hand (endorphins are pretty amazing!).  Further along a smaller dog darted out in my path and I barely managed to avoid colliding with him.  If I had he would have been badly hurt.  Please dog owners for the safety of all concerned, keep them on a leash in areas heavily trafficked by runners or cyclists.