A Runner's Best Friend

Just Another Runner’s Perspective June 2026 Written By Gale Fischer

A Runner’s Best Friend

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”

—-Roger Caras

6/18/2026: The sun hung low on the horizon to the east as I plodded along on my first trip down the gravel dead-end road at the end of my driveway. My faithful four-legged companion, Winny, was at my left side, stride for stride. The round trip down and back was just a tad over eight tenths of a mile, and four passes would give me a little more than three miles. Normally, I prefer one long loop or a single out-and-back course when running, but with my canine friend keeping me company, it was much easier to stick to this much quieter option rather than a road shared with morning commuters on their drive to work. The contentment I felt for just being able to start the day with a run on this cool June morning helped erase the monotony of retracing my steps over and over again on the same stretch of road. Running can offer a variety of positive experiences. A run can be enhanced when shared with a dog. 

I had broken back into a routine after seven months away from running, building my endurance for almost a ten-month stretch without interruption, starting in July of 2025, only to be sidelined with a strained calf ten months later, near the end of April. To fill the void of not running, my exercise schedule since April had shifted to walking, with the bulk of these miles with Winny on the same dead-end gravel road we were now running on. 

My return to my sport after six months away would not be rushed, with a conservative game plan involving cycles of running and walking intervals, with the running portion increasing gradually each week. I had developed a daily habit of walking with Winny, and it seemed fitting to continue with Winny as my partner while adding running into the mix.

Through the years, running has become my go-to activity. When I started in 1998, it didn’t take long for it to become a part of my weekly exercise pattern. Running had become an activity that I had embraced four or five days a week for much of the past twenty-eight years. When I initially started this journey, the first fifteen months, I ran solo. It took a few months to get over the physical discomfort of each run for it to become an activity that gave me physical and mental contentment and joy, and eventually, I took comfort in the alone time that running gifted me. There were times when it provided opportunities to problem solve through life and job circumstances, but I also found that running could allow me to not think about these circumstances for an hour or so at a time. Running gave my brain what it needed, whether it be a chance to meditate, an opportunity to reflect, or an hour to problem-solve.

Although the alone time of each run seemed to provide mental and emotional stability, soon I longed to find others to share the experience with. Eventually, I found a group to run with. Although not the same as running alone, I realized that running with others also boosted my mental and emotional stability. If I were asked if I prefer running alone or would rather run with others, I’m not sure I could answer this question. I would say that balancing my hobby with solo and group helps to keep running fresh.

Sharing running with my dog has added a new element. I have found that I can enjoy many of the benefits of solo running, but also experience some of the positives of running with others, when running with Winny by my side. Humans connect in a way when running together that is different than how humans connect in any other facet of life. The same can be said about human/dog connections. I have found that running with Winny has allowed me to connect with her in a way that is unique. As I continue to build back my endurance, I anticipate that Winny will not accompany me on every run, but I am hopeful that my new running partner will continue to join me a few times a month.

Until next time, this has been just another runner’s perspective.