What does go 99 thump?

I read an article somewhere about pets.  I have conveniently blocked it out of my mind because it hits a little too close to home for me.

The article said that after a while people started to look like their pets.  And after listening to myself breathing, I have to agree in part.  Does sound like their pets count?

A couple years ago, I bought the most beautiful minature Pug.  For a day or two, I wrongly thought she was a boy.  And the most original name I could come up with, was Puglsy.  Thank goodness she was a pretty little girl, who was christened, Arwin.  Or to those that know and love her, DemonDog.  Said exactly that way because she is a bit of a terror.

I thought I could take her running with me when she was still young enough that that was only a dream.  My aunt kept telling me to forget that dream because Pug’s have squishy faces.  And as a result, can’t breath very well.

No wonder I picked that breed.  It sounds like me.  Minus the squishy face. 

I do have to admit though, that when I run I sound exactly like my dog.  Since she has the squishy face, her nose is a little pushed in and dogs apparently don’t breath through their mouths.  They do pant through their mouths.  Just like me.

That is why I wear headphones.  I don’t want to hear the laboured breathing that is me.  The snuffling and the snorting.  Just like Arwin.   Except she has a reason.

And when I run, the sound of my feet pounding on the ground.  No criminal could bear to hear the stomp, stomp, stomp of my feet. 

I am reminded of that childrens joke, “What do you call something that goes 99 thump?”  I can’t remember the punch line, but I think it goes something like “Terri running.”

I wouldn’t trade DemonDog, or my own running style for the world.  We are both unique in our own special way.