In June 2011, our family set out on a mission to find a cat. Our cat we had was very old and had disappeared. I had spent a lot of time searching on kijiji and in the local papers when finally an ad was posted. The lady who had posted lived only about 6 miles away, so off the kids and I went. When we got there, there was a golden retriever (my dream dog) tied to a tree, anxious to meet anyone coming in the driveway. As soon as the kids got out of the car they were like magnets to the dog. We all forgot about the cat. As it turned out, the cat wasn’t going to work, but we came home with the dog.
Our dog, Lady (not Darcy’s choice of names), is our almost 5 year old puppy. Her previous owners were an older couple who were not able to give her the attention and exercise she needed. We now have an almost 5 year old, 80lb, full of energy, addition to our family. She has turned out to be one of the best additions ever, especially for myself. I love to walk, and not a slow pokey pace, so this has been great, I think I have met my match. Before she joined our family, I still went for my daily walks, however, not with the same dedication and commitment. One of my challenges this year is to run a leg in the Grand Cache Death Race. As of last week it is official, I am signed up and paid for. I am not a natural born runner like some, so I am having to change my training in order to prepare myself for August. The most consistent and loyal training partner I have so far has been Lady. I find myself waking up before its light or anyone else is awake to take her out for her first walk/run/drag of the day. I have to be honest and say that there are many mornings where I say to myself “maybe I’ll just go later and sleep in that extra 30 minutes “ or “surely she isn’t going want to go out in 35 below temperture.” However, somehow I find myself getting up anyway, just in case. I am rewarded with trusting and happy eyes, a furry face and a wagging tail waiting. I think to myself, if she can hack it so can I, and off we go. It only takes the first kilometer to get a kick start and feel awake. The best time of the day for me has turned out to be early in the morning. It is quiet and relaxing, allowing a person to truly just enjoy everything around them. Our morning routine has turned out to be just what I need to get me started for the rest of the day! Lately I have noticed just what these walks/runs/drags have been doing for me physically. About a week and half ago we did the shuttle run in class and I felt great, I could have kept going. Then there are a couple of hills we encounter on our walk through the park reserve that I can take at a good run and don’t even have me puffing anymore. Something as simple as 10 km day walks has turned out to benefit me in more ways than I thought. I feel better both mentally and physically. In actually logging kilometers since January, I am amazed at how they can add up quickly. I have a heard a number of people say that the hardest number for them to keep up in their training has been their kilometers. This is the one for me that I find easy and an absolute joy.
I have become more aware of the benefit to having training partners, whether they are furry or not. Dedicated and encouraging partners motivate me to spend the time training as well as push me beyond where I think my limits are. I am very fortunate to have a few of these such partners, most of them in my own family. So a big thanks to them!
I wonder if they would allow a dog to run in the race?
Alana Regier
