1990 was the year of my first Ironman in Japan. I had just gotten a divorce and part of the divorce process was deciding who gets our dog. Since getting a dog was not my idea we decided that my ex-wife was getting the dog. The problem was that I was much attached to him as he accompanied me on my runs. He loved running and will actually tug the leash in front of me at 7 minute per mile pace around the 3 mile park loop. So later in 1990 I decided to get a dog just like him, a Yorkshire Terrier. I know what you are thinking. What is a big tough Ironman guy doing with a Yorkshire Terrier? That is a lady lap dog. Well I am here to tell you that these dogs can be tough too.
I looked at many Yorkshire Terriers and decided to buy Buddy. He was the one that came to my call and was big at 11 pounds for a Yorkshire Terrier. I immediately taught him how to run with me. He did not enjoy it as much as my old dog but he did it none the less. When he was three years old we entered a 3 mile dog dash and we took 5th overall among 700 dogs. The next day we were on the front page of the Denver Post newspaper in full color. Buddy was famous now. Buddy has been my best friend for the last 15 years. No other creature or person has spent more time with me than Buddy. Just a few hours ago Buddy passed away. I buried him near one of our favorite running trails. This way I can always visit him when I go on my runs out there. If there is a doggy heaven I hope he makes it.
As you can imagine it has been a tough evening. I knew this was coming. Buddy’s quality of life had deteriorated over the past 6 months. But it was still hard to realize that he is no longer with us. I have to figure out what to say to my 2 year old when he notices that Buddy is no longer around. Buddy was one of the first words he learned how to say.
I did mange to get a lift today at the gym but my evening trainer ride was put on hold as you can imagine. Buddy would always bark when I jumped on the bike trainer. I am not sure what that was all about but once I got going he will just lay down nearby and waited until I was done riding. My life is different now but for about 10 years it was just me and him. I have to thank him for all the company he provided me. I hope he thinks I was a good master. I will miss you Buddy!