It's in the Blood

[Richard Stone]

Richard had decided long ago that he would always be an athlete at heart, and that was shown that day as he got dressed in a black and yellow jogging tracksuit and pulled his running shoes on. After driving to the reserve, yes he could have run there too, he parked his car and stepped onto the path.

Once on the path he started at a gentle jog and quickly built up his pace. During these runs, he often wondered if he should speak with the staff members on campus and see if he could bring a dog out for exercise, bit he never thought about it until he was out here, so maybe he should look at getting a dog of his own... though he probably couldn't give the animal the time he or she deserved.

[AnnMarie Carter]

Rae slipped on her high school rodeo finalist jacket, shoving her hands into her pockets as she shouldered the door of her truck open. The weather was a little chilly but beautiful, nothing compared to the weather they got in Montana though. It fluctuates and she remembered one winter where it was below zero at one point. Talk about cold. C'mon Thor. she hummed to the Catahoula, smiling as the big dog leapt out of the truck's passenger seat. He hopped alongside her as they walked into the reserve, the dog busting at the seams with energy.

He was a working dog, through and through, so the move to Kentucky and the limited boundaries had built up a lot of energy. She pulled out his old tennis ball, smiling as they went down a path and Thor immediately noticed. Ooh I see you wanna play ball. Is that it? She said playfully, bouncing around on the balls of her feet in an exciting way. Thor immediately fed into it, and she chuckled before making him sit down and wait.

Once he had gathered up some patience, she chucked the ball hard down the path with a Go get it!. He took off like bat out of hell, billeting down the path before bringing it back to her. They continued their back and forth game before she chucked it hard again, just barely missing a man jogging in a yellow tracksuit. Yellow, really? How did she not notice him. Rae grimaced I'm sorry! I didn't notice you. She smiled sheepishly at the man as she grabbed Thor and took the ball, making him wait.

[Richard Stone]

It didn't take Richard long to find a comfortable stride, one where it meant it wasn't barreling along and not caring about anyone else who was out and about, but also a pace where his lungs began to burn as he inhaled the cold air after her'd been running for a while. The pace he'd chosen, also allowed him to watch the other people and animals around him.

As he ran, he also took the time to go through ideas for his classes. While also working through the required curriculum, he liked to keep the students engaged in what they were doing, and to do this he needed to think outside the box.

As he rounded a bend in the path he was following, a movement to his left caused him to lean back suddenly and a ball whizzed past him and he shook his head in amusement and then gave the woman who had apologised a warm smile. "It's not a problem." He told her. "It's a lovely day to be out here enjoying it!

[AnnMarie Carter]

Rae shook her head as the Catahoula practically shook with excitement. Once the man was clear she tossed the ball away from them to give them some space. It is! I'd just about die for any good weather, it's a good day for a ride too. I figured I should probably get the looney tune out first though. She said with a quiet laugh, nodding her head at the big dog as he dropped the ball on his way back, chasing it off in another direction. He's used to have hundreds of acres to run around, so he may have gotten a bit of culture shock at all the stuff around that isn't cows and horses. Shrugging, she chuckled again.

The weather is beautiful though, a great day for a run. I used to be in track in high school but I haven't gone running in awhile. She grinned, pushing her hands into her pockets. Thor came back, barely looking at the man as he sat and waited for her to take the ball. She did and subtly tossed it away again, smiling slightly in a fond way at the dog. She'd have to make sure to get him out more often.

[Richard Stone]

Richard arched his eyebrows at her words. "I'm surprised you didn't tackle two birds with one stone, and just taken your dog for a run on the trails." He grinned with a shrug. He liked running the trails, but here it was just safer, as there was no chance of turning a corner and coming face to face with a horse while he was in the reserve.

He nodded about the weather. "I'm not a runner... not really." He said with a grin. "There are just times that my body seems to forget that I'm now a nerd, not a jock, and that's when I end up out here... or in the gym." He found it quite amusing that he would quite often go and shoot hoops, especially when he had been a football player. It was on the tip of his tongue to offer to stop by her apartment when he went for runs, see if her dog wanted to come too, but he didn't want to seem too forward.

[AnnMarie Carter]

Rae chuckled a little and nodded, sliding her hands into the pockets of her jacket.Y'see. I did think about that. But Thor very much likes to explore rather than have to keep up with me. I'm afraid I'll let him wander too much and he'll startle someone's horse and then I'll have to deal with that. She shrugged, smiling a little lopsidedly before throwing the ball away from them again. And no leashes when I'm trying to run with him. I've tried and it didn't end very pretty. Thor was an amazing dog, but they moved at different paces, and there was nothing more he hated than having to be dragged along by mom.

Tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, she shrugged. I love to run. I exaggerated, awhile for me is a few months. I'd been so busy packing and moving and taking care of that She nodded her head at the dog rolling on his back in the grass crazy thing and settling my gelding in I haven't had the energy or time to get out. If my friends knew they'd all tease me for slacking. I was 2 time state champ in the 3200 meter, so you can imagine I use to run ALL the time. She laughed at what he said about being a nerd, shaking her head. Once an athlete always an athlete I suppose. Rae spoke with an amused smile, her blue eyes shifted to Thor who had finally seemed to settle. Suddenly she shook her head. I'm sorry! I completely forgot to introduce myself. I'm AnnMarie, but you can call me Rae or Marie. Whatever you'd like. She shrugged amicably, holding her hand out with a curve of a smile on her lips.

[Richard Stone]

Richard arched an eyebrow, from what he believe, from listening to the other staff who rode and owned horses, as soon as they were off campus on the trails, the leash came off, but he remained silent as he didn't ride, nor did he own a dog, so what he thought he'd heard may not be correct, and the last thing he wanted to do was to give the woman false information and get her in trouble.

He smile as she introduced herself. "I'm Richard." He replied as he shook her hand. "It is more than a pleasure to meet you.