This past weekend I was reminded that I am indeed out of shape! Neither me nor my dogs have run flyball (in a tournament) since December. Sure, we practice with the team and I keep the dogs in shape, but nothing like running several dogs in a tournament setting to remind you of your age. I counted it up and between my 3 dogs, I, the human, ran in about 60 races. So by the end of the day Saturday, I was hurting. So when I got home, I pulled out my trusty “Ortho Sport” massage oil that is loaded with essential oils and started rubbing it in. It has anti-inflammatory and pain-killing essential oils and is perfect for strained and swollen muscles or ligaments. That night, when my head hit the pillow at 9:30 pm, I slept like a baby. Well, that could have been because I got up at 4 am that morning for my 2 hour drive to Madison, but the true test would be the morning after. For my pups, this particular blend is a bit strong, so I located one of my many bottles of “Ortho Ease” massage oil and gathered around the 3 flyball dogs. Starting at the base of the tail, I tucked the bottle under the fur and squirted a long, thin strip of the massage oil directly on their skin. I then gently massaged this into their back and muscles. My old guy Satch (he’s going to be 11yrs soon) loved it! Riff and Twang did too. They kind of had a “skunk stripe” down their back but it was very soothing to them. Riff normally goes wild when I put essential oils on him but this time he just stood and almost fell asleep with the massaging along his back.
Call me crazy, but on Sunday, I was up and at ’em again but this time, I’m off to a herding fun day. Not as early as the day before, but the alarm went off at 5am. As I eased myself out of bed, yup, pretty stiff but not horrible, not like normal. Those of us who run a lot of flyball call this the “flyball hangover.” Your body was pushed physically to the limit. But I’ve got to pull it together for my yet another 2 hour drive south to work on sheep all day, in the 30 degree temps. I applied the “Ortho Sport” massage oil again – almost over my entire body since everything was feeling a little tight. One thing I didn’t count on is that it has peppermint in it and since I applied it after a shower on a cold morning – I was now FREEZING! Quick, put on my multi-layers for the outdoors. But my stiff neck and arm from tugging, aching knee from kneeling on the mats, and my tight back from loading/unloading crates and the general running of flyball, were all feeling a LOT better. All without any other pain reliever!
And, I’m happy to report that even after hours outside and all the activity of working sheep for quite a long time, I was still feeling pretty good. Monday morning rolled around and me and all the “working” pups were actually ready for another fun filled, active day.
I’ll have my Ortho Ease and Ortho Sport massage oils at my side for my months ahead as I get back into shape. Lots of “over doing it” ahead but hopefully, a more fit body to follow.