The Perfect Running Partner (der perfekte Laufpartner)
Ryan Cooper was twenty-six years old (Ryan Cooper war sechsundzwanzig Jahre alt), extremely fit (äußerst durchtrainiert), and looking for a running partner (und auf der Suche nach einem Laufpartner; to look for — suchen, Ausschau halten nach). He ran ten kilometres every morning before work (er lief jeden Morgen vor der Arbeit zehn Kilometer). He ran five more every evening after work (er lief jeden Abend nach der Arbeit weitere fünf). At weekends (an den Wochenenden), he ran half-marathons for fun (lief er zum Vergnügen Halbmarathons; fun — Spaß, Vergnügen).
"You need a dog (du brauchst einen Hund)," his colleague Marcus suggested (schlug sein Kollege Marcus vor; to suggest — vorschlagen, andeuten). "A proper running breed (eine richtige Laufrasse; proper — richtig, ordentlich; breed — Rasse, Zuchtform). Something fast (etwas Schnelles)."
The Perfect Running Partner
Ryan Cooper was twenty-six years old, extremely fit, and looking for a running partner. He ran ten kilometres every morning before work. He ran five more every evening after work. At weekends, he ran half-marathons for fun.
"You need a dog," his colleague Marcus suggested. "A proper running breed. Something fast."
Ryan researched carefully (Ryan recherchierte sorgfältig). He read articles (er las Artikel). He watched videos (er sah sich Videos an; to watch — beobachten, ansehen, zuschauen). He consulted experts (er befragte Experten). Every source said the same thing (jede Quelle sagte dasselbe): whippets were born to run (Whippets waren zum Laufen geboren). They could reach speeds of fifty-six kilometres per hour (sie konnten Geschwindigkeiten von sechsundfünfzig Kilometern pro Stunde erreichen; speed — Geschwindigkeit, Tempo). They were the greyhound's athletic younger cousin (sie waren der athletische jüngere Cousin des Greyhounds; greyhound — Windhund).
"A whippet (ein Whippet)," Ryan decided (entschied Ryan). "The perfect running partner (der perfekte Laufpartner)."
Ryan researched carefully. He read articles. He watched videos. He consulted experts. Every source said the same thing: whippets were born to run. They could reach speeds of fifty-six kilometres per hour. They were the greyhound's athletic younger cousin.
"A whippet," Ryan decided. "The perfect running partner."
He found a breeder in Somerset and drove three hours to collect his new dog (er fand einen Züchter in Somerset und fuhr drei Stunden, um seinen neuen Hund abzuholen; to collect — abholen, einsammeln). Nelson was beautiful (Nelson war wunderschön) — sleek grey fur (glänzendes graues Fell; sleek — glatt, glänzend; fur — Fell, Pelz), a long elegant nose (eine lange elegante Nase), and legs (und Beine) that looked (die aussahen) like they were designed by an engineer for maximum speed (als hätte sie ein Ingenieur für maximale Geschwindigkeit konstruiert).
"He's from champion racing stock (er stammt aus preisgekrönter Rennlinie; racing — Renn-; stock — Abstammung, Linie, Zuchtbestand)," the breeder told Ryan proudly (erzählte der Züchter Ryan stolz). "His father won forty-two races (sein Vater hat zweiundvierzig Rennen gewonnen; to win)."
He found a breeder in Somerset and drove three hours to collect his new dog. Nelson was beautiful — sleek grey fur, a long elegant nose, and legs that looked like they were designed by an engineer for maximum speed.
"He's from champion racing stock," the breeder told Ryan proudly. "His father won forty-two races."
Ryan was thrilled (Ryan war begeistert; to thrill — begeistern, in Aufregung versetzen). He bought the best running lead (er kaufte die beste Laufleine; to buy; lead — Leine /hier/; Führung), a reflective harness (ein reflektierendes Geschirr; harness — Geschirr, Gurtzeug), and special high-energy dog food (und spezielles, energiereiches Hundefutter). He prepared a training schedule (er stellte einen Trainingsplan auf; to prepare — vorbereiten; schedule — Plan, Zeitplan). Week one (Woche eins): gentle three-kilometre runs (sanfte Drei-Kilometer-Läufe; gentle — sanft, behutsam). Week eight (Woche acht): full ten-kilometre sessions (volle Zehn-Kilometer-Einheiten). By month three (bis zum dritten Monat), they would be running half-marathons together (würden sie zusammen Halbmarathons laufen).
Ryan was thrilled. He bought the best running lead, a reflective harness, and special high-energy dog food. He prepared a training schedule. Week one: gentle three-kilometre runs. Week eight: full ten-kilometre sessions. By month three, they would be running half-marathons together.
The first morning (am ersten Morgen), Ryan woke at five-thirty (wachte Ryan um halb sechs auf; to wake — aufwachen, erwachen). He put on his running shoes (er zog seine Laufschuhe an; to put on — anziehen), his compression shorts (seine Kompressionshose), and his GPS watch (und seine GPS-Uhr; watch — Uhr /hier/; Armbanduhr). He clipped the lead to Nelson's harness (er klippte die Leine an Nelsons Geschirr; to clip — anklemmen, befestigen).
"Ready (bereit), boy (mein Junge)? Let's go (los geht’s)!"
Nelson looked at Ryan (Nelson sah Ryan an). Then he looked at the sofa (dann sah er das Sofa an). Then he lay down on the sofa (dann legte er sich auf das Sofa; to lie down — sich hinlegen).
The first morning, Ryan woke at five-thirty. He put on his running shoes, his compression shorts, and his GPS watch. He clipped the lead to Nelson's harness.
"Ready, boy? Let's go!"
Nelson looked at Ryan. Then he looked at the sofa. Then he lay down on the sofa.
"Come on (komm schon), Nelson. Walkies (Gassi; walkies — Gassi /Aufforderung an den Hund zum Spaziergang/)! Running (Laufen)! Exercise (Sport; exercise — Bewegung, Sport, Übung)!"
Nelson closed his eyes (Nelson schloss die Augen).
Ryan carried Nelson to the front door (Ryan trug Nelson zur Haustür). He placed him on the pavement (er setzte ihn auf den Gehweg; pavement — Gehweg, Bürgersteig). Nelson stood perfectly still (Nelson stand vollkommen still da), like a statue in a museum (wie eine Statue in einem Museum).
"Run (lauf)!" Ryan encouraged (ermunterte ihn Ryan; to encourage — ermutigen, ermuntern). He jogged on the spot (er joggte auf der Stelle; spot — Stelle, Fleck). He pointed down the street (er deutete die Straße hinunter; to point — deuten, zeigen). He made enthusiastic noises (er gab begeisterte Laute von sich; noise — Geräusch, Laut, Lärm).
Nelson sat down (Nelson setzte sich hin).
"Come on, Nelson. Walkies! Running! Exercise!"
Nelson closed his eyes.
Ryan carried Nelson to the front door. He placed him on the pavement. Nelson stood perfectly still, like a statue in a museum.
"Run!" Ryan encouraged. He jogged on the spot. He pointed down the street. He made enthusiastic noises.
Nelson sat down.
Ryan tried pulling gently on the lead (Ryan versuchte, sanft an der Leine zu ziehen; to pull — ziehen, zerren). Nelson lay flat on the pavement (Nelson lag flach auf dem Gehweg; flat — flach, platt), his chin on his paws (das Kinn auf den Pfoten), looking up at Ryan with enormous brown eyes full of pity (und blickte mit riesigen braunen Augen voller Mitleid zu Ryan hoch; pity — Mitleid, Erbarmen). Pure pity (reines Mitleid). As if Ryan was the one (als wäre Ryan derjenige) who needed help (der Hilfe brauchte).
After twenty minutes of negotiation (nach zwanzig Minuten Verhandlung), Ryan managed to get Nelson fifty metres down the road (gelang es Ryan, Nelson fünfzig Meter die Straße hinunterzubekommen; to manage — schaffen, bewältigen, es schaffen). Nelson then turned around (dann drehte Nelson um; to turn around — sich umdrehen), walked home at a dignified pace (ging gemessenen Schrittes nach Hause; dignified — würdevoll, gemessen; pace — Schritt, Gangart, Tempo), climbed onto the sofa (kletterte auf das Sofa; to climb — klettern, steigen), and fell asleep (und schlief ein; to fall asleep — einschlafen).
Ryan stood in his living room in full running gear (Ryan stand in voller Laufmontur in seinem Wohnzimmer; gear — Ausrüstung, Montur, Kleidung), looking at his dog (und sah seinen Hund an).
Ryan tried pulling gently on the lead. Nelson lay flat on the pavement, his chin on his paws, looking up at Ryan with enormous brown eyes full of pity. Pure pity. As if Ryan was the one who needed help.
After twenty minutes of negotiation, Ryan managed to get Nelson fifty metres down the road. Nelson then turned around, walked home at a dignified pace, climbed onto the sofa, and fell asleep.
Ryan stood in his living room in full running gear, looking at his dog.
"You're a whippet (du bist ein Whippet)," Ryan said (sagte Ryan). "You're supposed to be one of the fastest dogs in the world (du sollst einer der schnellsten Hunde der Welt sein; to be supposed to — sollen, eigentlich müssen)."
Nelson opened one eye (Nelson öffnete ein Auge), sighed deeply (seufzte tief; to sigh — seufzen), and closed it again (und schloss es wieder).
Ryan went running alone (Ryan ging allein laufen). When he returned an hour later (als er eine Stunde später zurückkam; to return — zurückkommen, zurückkehren), Nelson had not moved a single centimetre (hatte sich Nelson keinen einzigen Zentimeter bewegt; single — einzig, einzeln).
"Champion racing stock (preisgekrönte Rennlinie)," Ryan muttered (murmelte Ryan; to mutter — murmeln, brummeln), shaking his head (und schüttelte den Kopf).
Nelson snored softly in response (Nelson schnarchte als Antwort leise; response — Antwort, Reaktion).
"You're a whippet," Ryan said. "You're supposed to be one of the fastest dogs in the world."
Nelson opened one eye, sighed deeply, and closed it again.
Ryan went running alone. When he returned an hour later, Nelson had not moved a single centimetre.
"Champion racing stock," Ryan muttered, shaking his head.
Nelson snored softly in response.
Ryan called the breeder that evening (Ryan rief an jenem Abend den Züchter an). "Is it normal for a whippet to refuse to move (ist es normal, dass ein Whippet sich weigert, sich zu bewegen; to refuse — sich weigern, ablehnen)?"
"Oh, did I not mention (habe ich das nicht erwähnt)?" the breeder said cheerfully (sagte der Züchter fröhlich; cheerful — fröhlich, heiter). "Whippets are the fastest couch potatoes in the animal kingdom (Whippets sind die schnellsten Sofahocker im Tierreich; couch potato — Sofahocker, Stubenhocker: „Couch-Kartoffel“; kingdom — Königreich, Reich). They can run at fifty-six kilometres per hour (sie können sechsundfünfzig Kilometer pro Stunde laufen). They just prefer not to (sie ziehen es nur vor, es nicht zu tun; to prefer — vorziehen, bevorzugen)."
Ryan looked at Nelson (Ryan sah Nelson an), who was sleeping on his back with all four legs in the air (der auf dem Rücken schlief, alle vier Beine in die Luft gestreckt), taking up the entire sofa (und das ganze Sofa einnahm; to take up — einnehmen, beanspruchen; entire — ganz, gesamt).
"Right (verstehe; right — richtig; /hier:/ verstehe, in Ordnung)," Ryan said (sagte Ryan). "Good to know (gut zu wissen)."
Ryan called the breeder that evening. "Is it normal for a whippet to refuse to move?"
"Oh, did I not mention?" the breeder said cheerfully. "Whippets are the fastest couch potatoes in the animal kingdom. They can run at fifty-six kilometres per hour. They just prefer not to."
Ryan looked at Nelson, who was sleeping on his back with all four legs in the air, taking up the entire sofa.
"Right," Ryan said. "Good to know."