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The dog runner returns, and the dogs rejoice
By Gina Spadafori
August 4, 2009
My friend Bob Halpenny is an ultramarathoner. He thinks nothing of racing — not running, racing — in 50-milers for fun.
He and his wife, Laura (who is so fit she could be on the cover of fitness magazine, but who’s a slacker compared to Bob), are also two of the sweetest, funniest and smartest people I know, and they are (well, of course!) pet-lovers extreme. They have a border collie who doesn’t mind sharing the trail with other dogs.
So, here are the pieces:
1) Friend who runs, lots, and loves dogs.
2) Dogs who love to run and need lots of exercise.
Aha! Friend should run my dogs!
And so this has gone, for more than two years. Bob picks up the retrievers a couple times a week and takes them out with him and his dog on the river trails. Woody and McKenzie run a big loop, many miles a week. Heather, who is pushing 13, trots at her own pace for about a mile, twice a week.
Drew the Sheltie prefers a more sedate pace. He’s about the same age as Heather (although I don’t know exactly how hold he is) but has always been low-key. He and I take our Wussy Walks together, and now, Faith joins in on those. Faith will one day join the big dogs on the runs, but not for a long time yet.
Bob ran the dogs almost up to McKenzie’s due date, last April. Then he had to take a break from dog-running, because he was training for Western States Endurance Run, an incredibly insaneawesome 100-mile race. Western States is a really big deal in the ultramathoner ranks: You have to qualify, and even then you have to get “lucky” and win a lottery to get in.
Western States was last month, and the plan was for the dogs to start back up with Bob after the race. Unfortunately, Bob injured himself during the race and wasn’t able to run …. until this week.
This morning was The Day. Bob and Dogs, reunited. McKenzie screamed with joy when she saw him, and all couldn’t wait to get back on the trail.
Runners high, all around.
Image: Bob and Woody, from a couple years ago. The old VW van finally died, and Bob now has a Honda Element. Besides that, nothing much has changed: Bob’s still the most fit person you’ll ever meet, and the dogs are delighted to see him, every time.
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My cousin is a runner as well (he tried out for the Olympics and so on) and he takes his dog for a minimum of an 11 mile run daily. I don’t remember exactly what sort of dog it is, but I know it’s a herding dog of some kind. Amazing how such seemingly un-assuming animals are still such phenomenol athletes after all the breeding and domesticating.
Comment by Celia — August 4, 2009 @ 10:37 am
We agree. Bob and Laura are a genuinely great people. We love their attitude. They run our boxer mix pooch, Sugar, three times a week and she loves it. Our dog loves them and can’t wait to run on those mornings. Bob and Laura sure help keep our dog physically and emotionally fit!
Comment by James & Kristina Lewis — September 8, 2009 @ 11:00 am