dutchman
10-08-2000, 12:24 PM
Hello all,
Frank has been in training for the past few weeks getting ready for yesterday's Flameout Five (5 KM, 3.1 mile) race. The benefits from this race are used by the local fire department to purchase smoke alarms for those who can't afford them. From our training runs I decided Frank had a good chance of running an eight minute mile pace and that was our initial goal. On our first solo training run Frank ran 2.5 miles at an 8:30 average pace. Our last training run was Thursday night 4.5 miles at an easy ten minute pace.
Well yesterday morning was cool (about 35) and overcast ideal weather for a race. As we wandered around before the race we were often ask if Frank was really going to run the race. We lined up near the back or the dog starting area Frank had the shortest legs in the race there was only one other short dog entered and his legs were about an inch longer than Franks. The gun sounded and we took off. We passed a number of people and dogs in the first mile which and I let Frank go out a little fast we hit mile one at 7:40. Mile two had us settling down into a steady pace with few people passing us and us passing few. Early in the third mile two larger dogs (on a border collie) passed us and Frank tried to pick up the pace but was feeling that too fast first mile. Frank hung on picked up the speed on the last down hill and we finished in 24:18.
Some of the typical comments we heard after the race were:
Did you carry him? (No he ran the whole race himself)
I ran the fastest race of my life I just couldn't let a dachshund beat me.
I can't believe a dachshund beat me.
I can't believe such short legs can move so fast.
Boy is that one fast little dog.
All in all many people came away with a new respect for dachshunds and what they are capable of. While we didn't place there were plenty of larger dogs than finished well behind us.
And to answer a few questions you might have about Frank's running. He does enjoy it I wouldn't take him if he didn't. How do I know he enjoys it? I sometimes give him some extra leash when we are out training and he always tries to surge out ahead. I do check the pads of his feet after every run and haven't observed any problems so far. I keep a very close eye on him when we run. On all our training runs I carry a water bottle and collapsible dish. So far we haven't had to use the water before we finish our runs. If it hadn't been so cool yesterday we would have had the bottle and dish along for the race.
Frank's favorite part of the race yesterday? The big box of self sever dog treats. He remembered the location of that box and any time we got close had to stick his head in for another reward.
Frank will continue to join me for the occasional training run till the weather gets too hot next spring/summer. I really do believe he considers the runs as quality time alone with dad. He does miss having me to himself since we added Tanner to our home.
Tom
Frank has been in training for the past few weeks getting ready for yesterday's Flameout Five (5 KM, 3.1 mile) race. The benefits from this race are used by the local fire department to purchase smoke alarms for those who can't afford them. From our training runs I decided Frank had a good chance of running an eight minute mile pace and that was our initial goal. On our first solo training run Frank ran 2.5 miles at an 8:30 average pace. Our last training run was Thursday night 4.5 miles at an easy ten minute pace.
Well yesterday morning was cool (about 35) and overcast ideal weather for a race. As we wandered around before the race we were often ask if Frank was really going to run the race. We lined up near the back or the dog starting area Frank had the shortest legs in the race there was only one other short dog entered and his legs were about an inch longer than Franks. The gun sounded and we took off. We passed a number of people and dogs in the first mile which and I let Frank go out a little fast we hit mile one at 7:40. Mile two had us settling down into a steady pace with few people passing us and us passing few. Early in the third mile two larger dogs (on a border collie) passed us and Frank tried to pick up the pace but was feeling that too fast first mile. Frank hung on picked up the speed on the last down hill and we finished in 24:18.
Some of the typical comments we heard after the race were:
Did you carry him? (No he ran the whole race himself)
I ran the fastest race of my life I just couldn't let a dachshund beat me.
I can't believe a dachshund beat me.
I can't believe such short legs can move so fast.
Boy is that one fast little dog.
All in all many people came away with a new respect for dachshunds and what they are capable of. While we didn't place there were plenty of larger dogs than finished well behind us.
And to answer a few questions you might have about Frank's running. He does enjoy it I wouldn't take him if he didn't. How do I know he enjoys it? I sometimes give him some extra leash when we are out training and he always tries to surge out ahead. I do check the pads of his feet after every run and haven't observed any problems so far. I keep a very close eye on him when we run. On all our training runs I carry a water bottle and collapsible dish. So far we haven't had to use the water before we finish our runs. If it hadn't been so cool yesterday we would have had the bottle and dish along for the race.
Frank's favorite part of the race yesterday? The big box of self sever dog treats. He remembered the location of that box and any time we got close had to stick his head in for another reward.
Frank will continue to join me for the occasional training run till the weather gets too hot next spring/summer. I really do believe he considers the runs as quality time alone with dad. He does miss having me to himself since we added Tanner to our home.
Tom