Does Your Dog Smile When They Run?

Today I logged 24 miles of running and most of it was with my four legged friends.  I am in training for a 6-hour ultra marathon to raise money for the Nevada SPCA and today my training plan called for 24 miles today.  I had a plan and my plan was to run from my house to the Nevada SPCA which was 4 miles. I figured I would run 3 miles with 3 different dogs for a total of 9 miles then return home which was again 4 miles.  That would put me at 17 and then I would run 4 miles with my dog Daisy and finish off the last 3 miles with my other dog Tigger. It worked out almost perfectly but before I left the shelter I was about 3/4 of a mile short so I had to take out one additional dog for a quick run.  My partners at the shelter were Amazon, Huckleberry, Domino and Meredith.  Most days I go to the shelter I opt to take out the more excitable, energetic, and harder to manage dogs such as Andre and Margaret.  I love the challenge and in the end both those dogs are great dogs they just want to play too much rather than run.  I think Andre would be better at a water sport and Margaret at agility.  So today I didn't feel like the challenge so I took some dogs that are still energetic but really just love to run.  

I am so thankful to have found a way to combine my passion for running and my passion for my furry friends.  Although running 24 miles was not easy it was not nearly has hard as running it alone.  When I was running with Huckleberry I kept thinking that he looked like he was smiling the entire time.  I was so thankful to be able to bring a bit of joy into these dogs life today while they await their forever home.  I plan to go see Margaret and Andre this week because I feel guilty that I opted for the easy dogs today.  Andre is such a fun, playful boy he needs a home that can offer him lots of activities. 

I can't forget about Tigger he brought me home running the last 3 miles with me.  It wasn't a fast 24 miles but when you have to stop and pick up poop, and stop to pee on everything (not me the dogs) then that adds a little bit to the overall time! If you want to help support me for my 6-hour run you can go to Run For Fido 

The Nevada SPCA does so much for our furry friends (cats and dogs).  They offer much needed medical care to animals that are in need of it.  They keep animals until they get adopted which in some cases is over a year.  When they have room they adopt animals from the local animal shelter that euthanizes hard to adopt animals.  My fundraising goal is $3000 and I am about halfway there. You can go to the above link and make a flat donation or you can go to my website to sign up to sponsor me per mile. If you choose to do that I hope to run 35 miles in 6 hours.  I will contact you after the event to tell you how far I ran and then you can make your donation.  That link is Coach Cyndee

Thanks for your help!