Hope you guys don't mind me lurking around since I don't have anything to report. I enjoy reading the posts. Funny exchange about the dogs. It's quite a sight when I have all six of mine running with me. It must look like a greyhound race track with me being the rabbit. Actually, only two stay with me, the others are off chasing things in the brush.
Since my feet have been craving stimulation from lack of running, I tried a gravel bucket. I found a shallow pan and filled it with some sharp gravel chips. Felt so good to walk in that cold gravel. I left the pan unsupervised for a while and after dinner I planed to do more while the family was watching TV. Started crunching my feet in the gravel and noticed a wet spot. Smelled the gravel and you guessed it, cat pee. Anyone want some cats (TJ)?
Guess I will buy a tupperware that I can put a lid on. I'm thinking some abrasive lava rock would feel great.
@Lee - I think you have a good routine going with the stretching during the run. Seemed to help me when I had knee problems. When I feel my hips tightening, I find a curb or rock to stand on, dangle the leg off and jut the opposite hip out. Looks funny, but works. The thoughts of when that IT band pain is going to kick in will be with you for a while. Just takes a long time and a string of injury free runs to overcome the doubt. Stick with it.