Tripping On the Trail

Maddie is one of my retired performance dogs and a very high drive hard working Siberian.  I no longer ask her to jump and climb...but she is one of our running partners, for reasons of both her health, and our choice of active lifestyle.  Technically considered a senior at the age of 12, she's continues to be a dynamite running partner on either road or trail.  She has lost some endurance, but we take her a few times a week for a mile and a half jog/run/walk, and then on most weekends get in a good three mile escapade.

I've previously posted "Maddie isn't for whimps"; if you can't take a line being pulled  for over a mile at a time, you don't need to take this dog with you.  Pulling is what most people immediately attempt to curb once they acquire a Siberian, but I attribute a good pull to "good drive and a good working Siberian" - I know this seems like crazy philosphy coming from someone who is never going to hook dogs to a sled and take off through frozen tundra, but it was my way of working my dogs.  I don't complain about the pull, ever, it was my conscious decision to endure, and even pursue it, with my dogs.  However, when it comes to running with her, even I can be frightened by her speed on a downhill, or on a rocky/rooty trail.  I wouldn't turn her loose on someone who didn't have a good sense of their footing and an ability to stay tuned to their surroundings; well except for me that is.

This past Saturday Dave and I headed out with the dogs for our regular run at the river.  We began with casual conversation, and the usual admiration of our surruoundings.  I began the trail with Maddie, Dave had Mira.  I was running the shoulder, while Dave was in the middle of the trail.  Less than a quarter mile along the path Maddie lept off the path and bounded into the brush.  She didn't particularly pull me or jolt me, but it definitely got my attention; I had to stop to get her out of the brush as the "targeted" squirrel scampered to safety.  Every hair on her body was on alert, she was obviously delighted at the possibilities of her hunt as I pulled her back onto the path.  I was laughing out loud when an oncoming runner swerved into our path to note "she really wanted that squirrel!".  We both laughed as Maddie and I began to jog again to catch back up to Dave and Mira.

The dogs, the trail, and the river or mountain just give me so much pleasure that I cannot begin to express how much I really enjoy our times out there.  And when the girls do something "doggy" it just tickles me to death.  I remember these moments and can recall them vividly in my minds eye on a whim, they simply delight me.  It is no surprise that I was caught up in the moment, still laughing, when my right foot caught a root and I flew forward onto the ground.

I never let go of the leash (all Siberian owners can attest that you don't EVER let go of the lead...), I didn't see anything other than the pea gravel fastly approaching my head when I rolled onto my back and let my head somewhat softly "bang" onto the trail.  At some point I made the unconscious decision to close my eyes, I suppose it was a defensive move most contact lens wearers would automatically make.  When I opened them, I was looking into the amber eyes of my gal Maddie.  If you know me well, you know that I began to laugh immediately.  The sound of my laughter is all she needed, and she began to clean the dust from my face and wag her tail wildly.  Her demeanor seemed to say "why are you down there again, c'mon, we are behind...let's go!". 

Tonight I sit with road rash on both knees.  The left leg and ankle are swollen and I'm missing spin class.  I look across the living room and she's stretched across the sofa happily snoozing away.  Would I go back 12 years and change my attitude toward her pulling, nope not for a minute.  Would I go back 72 hours, or so, and look down at the path ahead of me, yep you betcha!

Nutritional Balance for Trail Runs

This "winter" season has proven to be a challenge to run with a Siberian for distances over a 5k.  The climate has been damp and warm for the most part.  On days we start by 7:30 am, we've been lucky if we finish before the temps climb into the mid to upper 40's; and often we've been out near 60 degrees.  Granted we're not fast, and she's not pulling a load as a sled dog would, but still she's definitely working for and with me on the trail.  Because of the increased temperature, coupled with my need to continue to add mileage, I've worked hard to come to a reasonable solution that gives both of us a nutritional boost on the trail at mile 3 or so, and lets the finish come with less fatigue.  It's no fun to go for a run and then come home exhausted and wiped out for the rest of the day.  The next few paragraphs outline the routine we've taken up that I think has serverd us very well during these days that feel more like early fall or spring than January and February.

Me:  Pre-run, I drink plenty of water and have either a half of a protein shake (I make myself) or a half of an Organics brand protein bar (very tasty and vegan/gluten free to boot).  I pack a small bag of trail mix (from Publix; peanuts, raisins, M&M's and almonds) with some dried apricots and extra almonds for an easy boost on the trail.  And of course there's water, lots of water.  I pack a bottle to have enroute, and leave a bottle in the truck for the ride home.  I also pack two bottles on my hiking/running belt for the trail. The trail mix is simple and not opposed to cold or warm weather, I can grab a few nibbles quickly plus I get the extra benefit of a little salt, since I can and do sweat at any climate.  Post-run I finish the protein bar or shake, the remainder of my trail mix and take in lots of water on the way home.

Mira: I have learned that getting up within 45 minutes of our regular Monday thru Friday alarm time and giving her the normal cereal breakfast meal with a little extra portion of cereal works well.  By the time she's eaten, I'm packed, we're loaded, and drive to the trail; she's had a good hour and a half to two hours to settle her morning meal, so I have little fear of digestive issues.  Once we stop for a water and nutrition break, she gets water, a small handful of kibble, some dried salmon (current favorite Wellness brand), and a Zuke's power bone.  We've tested this little goodie bag of nutrition in 90 degree weather while hiking in the Asheville area as well as the trails here at home in temps ranging from 20 degrees to 60+ degrees; the food survives well and doesn't get sticky or messy in the heat (of course nothing is ever left in direct sunlight, it's alaways on my person).  Breaks don't last long with her because she doesn't care to stop moving much more than I do, so before I have the water bowl and bottle packed back into my pack, she's usually leaning into the lead toward the trail. I have taken this desire to continue the trail to be a good sign that we're on the right track with the proper nutritional support her body demands.

Post-run and after we're cooled down a bit, it's back to the truck where I check her feet, legs, shoulders and spine to be sure I don't find any signs of soreness.  Once she passes inspection, so to speak, she's into her crate for a long drink and a heavier load of her mix from the trail. I stretch her and I back at home - I will do a little stretching of my quads and hamstrings there, but I prefer to spend some good time stretching after I've chilled out.  She is always receptive to a good stretch and rub once we're back at the house too.  At the truck she is more focused on getting to the food, so if I take the time to stretch her there it just causes irritation between us as she twists and bucks and tries to get into her crate.

There were a few challenges in finding the right nutritional mix of things for both of us.  I tried several food items for me and her that didn't hold up well to the humidity or heat; most trail bars were too cumbersome to handle on the trail and then there's the wrapper that has to be packed back and thrown away later.

We don't feed kibble here as the dogs have been on a raw diet for nearly a year now.  So the challenge of obtaining kibble for this purpose only became an odd prospect when I began the season this year.  Buying a bag of food that wasn't going to be used except on weekends seemed potentially wasteful, yet I wanted to be sure that what I was providing for her on the these runs was actually nutrition; I save "treats" and "cookies" for training behaviors.  One day while checking out of a boutique that we purchase supplements for the dogs from the cashier offered me a sample bag/serving of a natural kibble they carry.  Bingo, I happily took it and two more.  They are good, natural, nutritionally sound kibble products and they come in really small amounts!  So now we keep a couple of sample bags of kibble from good nutritious products on hand.  I am able to provide her with variety in both flavor and ingredients, while knowing I've just given her something that will serve us well on our travels and recovery.

Happy trails and wagging tails :)

New View on Racing and Goal Setting

I've "finished" a lot of things these past two years; 3 Half Marathons, 1 Super Sprint Tri, 1 Indoor Tri, 2 Sprint Tri's (one was not USAT sanctioned and I could keep my feet down I was so close to shore, so I only count it as having had the guts to get into the water).  Somehow, I find myself turning a new chapter, looking for the next level of motivation.  Finishing the race doesn't do it for me anymore.  I have that "been there, done that" feeling when I think about "finishing".

I set out early in the fall determined that this would be the year to track my "personal bests" and keep beating myself, and I still intend to do that, but I feel a bit redundant in the goal, since each of the previous event times and statistics have been better than the one prior...

Tonight I pulled out the overall stats from the Tri's that I've been in.  Before I began to review them, I had devised this objective in my mind that I was going to finish 2 of the 3 Sprints I enter this season in the top 10 of my gender/age bracket.  As I began to review the papers in front of me, my heart sank.  My God, the swim legs for the top 10 finishers in the events I've previously entered are so fast, more than two thirds less than my times!  I could probably beat the bike and run times today for each of the my previous Tri events, but the water, the swim, how am I going to knock my time by two thirds just to give myself a shot at the next two legs and a top 10 finish.  How am I going to build that kind of speed?  That means I have to be in the thick of the activity in the water, I have to swim on the inside and wrap around the buoys as tight as I possibly can so I'm not swimming more lake real estate than necessary, I'll be swum over and probably have to swim over others in order to accomplish this time.  I'll be in the wake of the other swimmers, rough water, dark water, all those things that I could not fathom only two short years ago.  I'm not worried about the doing of the distance, I can see the light at the end of that tunnel; I can count the laps at the pool and see that I'm able to get more distance already.  But speed, how am I going to manage that?

The question of speed kept floating around my head as I studied my records, "how am I going to pull this off, to get my swim leg done in under 10 minutes on a Sprint?  What kind of training do I have to put in?"  Finally I turned the question around to "How will I best accomplish this goal?"  Maybe now that I'm not trying to justify the insanity of my goal anymore I'll be able to follow the path to accomplishing it.

Asphalt replaces Kennesaw Mountain

Love Sunday long runs, so much so that anytime I'm down and out, all I have to do is think of heading out with Mira on a Sunday morning for our long run and my spirits immediately lift. In my head I can hear our steps on the hard packed trail, I can taste the sweat on my lip and smell the pines on a breeze. I've been especially looking forward to this week's run just to help ease an unidentified restless spirit I've had this week.

The bleak weather and rain settled in the end of this week and our yard is gooshing when you walk across the back of it toward the parking pad for the RV.  Thankfully the rain broke yesterday afternoon.  We were supposed to have wind later in the day which would have helped dry the trails some.  Instead I awoke this morning to 53 degrees and a soaking wet patio proving it had just rained, yet again.  With a very sulky attitude I went back to sleep on the sofa, with a dog next to me on the floor and one curled up at my feet.

About 8:30 I drug myself to the patio door to let Mira out again and stuck my head out.  To my delight it was chilly.  Not heavy, humid like it had been yesterday morning, but actually chilly :)  SCORE!  It would be really muddy at the mountain and it was pretty late in the morning, so I decided staying on the asphalt in the neighborhood would have to soothe my soul today. Dave normally takes Maddie out in the neighborhood after I leave with Mira, so this morning we decided we were headed out together and I'd finish with a couple additional miles after the four of us finished our long loop.

Dave and I scrambled into our running/walking/jogging attire (not sure what you'd call us at this point, we're not runners because well we don't "run"; jogging has the sound of a runner wanna be and I'm never in the mood to be a wanna be and walking doesn't justify the exertion we put into this, so I've settled on runner or jog/walking). We were off and jogging/walking having a grand time with a cool breeze on our faces, but amazingly the humidity was not kicking out butts.  We took the long loop together and Mira and I separated from them when we got back to the house.  She and I headed down Inlet to Shallowford, back over to Reef and on and on. We managed to get in close to two more miles.

Mira and I were on the road 52 minutes this morning.  I had her out yesterday for 50.  The back to back days showed on her toward the end this morning. She began giving me lots of loose lead and I actually passed her up a couple of times.  It wasn't difficult for me to slow down to a recovery walk the last 3 or 4 10ths in order to honor what she was obviously needing.  Although, I remain uncertain if she needed the slow down emotionally, I made the decision to give up pace and begin recovery.

I'm not sure how much of her slowing down today was the fact that we went out back to back days for an extended time, or the fact we were on asphalt for two longer periods back to back, or it could simply be the neighborhood.  She doesn't focus in the neighborhood as much as she does on the trail.  I think there's too many scents in an area of territory that she shares with so many other animals, that she's not as interested in being my partner here as she is on trails.  I have a sneaking suspicion my dog was bored and if she's bored, she'd rather check out the new grass and all the smells than trot next to my side.

She's not showing any signs of fatigue, lameness, soreness or discomfort, so I'm leaning toward the neighborhood doesn't hold her interest in much the same way it doesn't hold mine.  Just another way she and I are so well matched for this adventure we're in.  That being said, about boredom and all, I'm really grateful we had an option today to pick asphalt over a muddy mountain.

Like Mother Like Daughter

Two weeks ago we took Mira and Maddie to the Hooch trails to jog/walk a 5k.  A little humid, the roads at the house were sweaty when we left at 8ish in the morning.  I've learned over the years that work ethic doesn't wane as our dogs age.  Their senses and reaction times certainly become slower, but the heart and desire don't leave them; at least not the ones I've been blessed to work.

As soon as we opened the back of the Enclave, Maddie began to whine and circle in her crate.  Mira sat calmly, ever the "will she or won't she" pose in the back of her crate.  Dave and I have been alternating dogs between us depending on if he thinks he can handle the pull or if he wants the more subdued "walk with you" Mira.  He has been recovering or dealing with a disc issue for the past 18 months.  That day he never looked at me as he opened her crate and snapped the lead to the harness.  This left me with the more amicable, less demanding, not so interested in pulling my arms out of the sockets, Mira.

As soon as Maddie hit the pea gravel parking lot she was at the end of the line.  We crossed the .75 mile mark and Dave looked at me and said "12 years old my a___" (referring to her), all the while he had a crooked smile on his face.  Watching the "oldest" dog happily work at something that gave her and us so much joy took me back three years to a time when I thought I would use Nakeeta as my "cool down" dog after runs with Maddie and Magic.  Occasionally I would find myself thinking I should have worked with Kit before I ran with anyone else because as soon as the lead clipped onto her harness her tail was out, ears back and there was NEVER any slack on the line between us.  The drive genes definitely passed from Kit to Maddie.

Today we had the girls at the Hooch again.  This time it was 31 degrees when we set out down the path and they were on fire. Before the first bend we spotted a plump cardinal in a tree nearby and I felt the first slap of cold breeze across my face.  About the time I let out a groan Dave started to jog, the girls dug in and we were off without any more time to consider the bite in the air.  We jogged and walked past the turn and into the section of the path that is not wooded with the girls happily thrusting ahead when we gave the signal to jog and silently submitting to the walk when we gave the command to slow down.  As we approached the wetlands on the return path to the car, Dave and Maddie had a visual conversation as they jogged along that left a warm spot in my heart.  She's so much to him what Nakeeta was to me.  I know I'm sentimental, and my soul is soft.  Part of me thinks I should apologize for seeing what I see, but it just wouldn't be me if I didn't have this huge mush place in my heart.  My soul is filled when I'm holding a lead with the dogs ahead of me, whether we're on the road or headed down a trail.  Somehow that "filling" pushes me forward to the next run, to the next workout because there is simply so much pleasure in spending time with these guys who never ask me for anything, they just keep giving and giving and giving.  In Maddie's case it may be a little slower and a little shorter distance than before, but Maddie is still giving me everything she has, her desire to please and work has never changed for one minute.

In 4 hours she'll be 12 years old.  She was the first puppy to arrive in the first and only litter we ever bred.  She still mouths back at me when she thinks I'm wrong, she still bounces for her food, she still pulls the lead as long as she can.  She doesn't go as far, or as fast, and her eyes miss judge distance and depth sometimes, but her heart has not changed in any way.  Dave and I get everything she has, no exception.  She never holds back, the tempo is different, but the heart is the same.

Run on Kennesaw Mountain with Mira

There are multiple entries in my journal for this particular date stating "it was the perfect run" regarding the run I had with Mira last weekend.

I am back in training for the 2012 Tri season and also the first Marathon which will be in November, 2012.  The goals are set: 3 Sprint Tri's; 1 Olympic Tri and 1 (the first), Marathon. 

Mira is in the best condition that I've ever had a dog.  She's thin, but very, very strong and has more heart for the run right now than I've seen her show in all her seven years.  She is so driven that I am actually drawn to get out on nights that I would otherwise stay home because she give me the "stare" of a working dog who is ready to work.

My only complaint on a trail with her is that she's determined to work on the wrong side of the path.  This issue stems from our long history of running on the road and following road rules whereby we run into traffic; on the trail you run with traffic as if you're a vehicle on the road.  Both situations make sense, but to her we're simply wrong on the trail going with the flow.  I may take time to train the difference in her this season, but after this last run, I'm in no hurry.
A week ago we ventured out to Kennesaw Mountain.  I wanted to traverse the 5.5 mile out and back from Burnt Hickory Road to the Illinois Monument. This route would give some hill work for me (intending at this point to run the first marathon in San Francisco in October, 2012 which has now been changed to Chickamagua Battlefield Marathon in November, 2012), while giving her some gravel to toughen her pads relatively early in what is "trail season" for us.  This will allow us to get in longer runs on more difficult terrain in late January and February.

She was not particularly affected by her surroundings, but rather focused on the task at hand on this day.  She merely glanced at the 2 white tails loping across the trail ahead of us as we began the assent to Powder Springs Road.  There was neither hesitation nor urgency in her trot as we watched them disappear into the woods ahead of us.

She has good instincts, in most regards.  She will find the hard pack on the trail very quickly to avoid slipping and snagging on the loose gravel.  She steps aside willingly for passing canines.  I don't have to think as much when I'm with her about our surroundings as I do/have with others before her.  It gives me more time to enjoy the trail and my dog.
By we had turned at the monumnet and began our descent from Powder Springs Road to the bridge, I had enough trust in her to let go and run the downhills. for the first time.  Loose gravel sliding and rolling under my feet would normally keep me at a walk with a short and tight lead on her.  But today felt liberating, fresh and new.  We easily trotted from Powder Springs Road to the bridge eventually following the path to the parking lot and back to the truck.

All in all we had 4 White Tail cross our path within view.  Many, many squirrels; one standard poodle (that had a mutual affection for her); a 12 year old mix that stole my heart and caused me to smile from ear to ear; and a couple of small children who would have never gotten a moment of Mira's time had they not had sticky food on their faces that required investigation.  She worked with me the entire 5.5 miles.  It was the best run I've ever had with a dog - this dog is special.