Multisport Canine-Style

After Louisville last year, I attempted multiple times to get back on the training bandwagon but each time my knee told me, “Uhm. Not yet!” It was pretty disheartening when even swimming would hurt – kick drills were verboten and an odd push off the wall could terminate a session early.

I had settled into a blue mood when in November a serendipitous ad appeared in the paper:

Jack Russell Terrier puppies. Available immediately.

Call: 543-xxxx

Jacks? And a local number?!? Serendipitous because if we were to get a puppy again this was the breed – small in size so it could travel easily with us but big in nature plus active – Puppy Trifecta!

Long story short … introducing our newest family member … Stella!

Having a new puppy certainly kept my mind focused but I’ve been able to slowly work my knee back into shape. First by resting, LOTS. Then walking Stella.  Short but many, initially. And as she has grown (now 4 months old) varying in terrain, length and even intensity as we incorporate some light running.

Locally we’ve been attending Puppy Classes but  Jane also specializes in Flyball which sounds like lots of fun. One snowy afternoon, as I went looking for Flyball videos, I came across something called Dock Dogs. Be sure to look at the videos on dockdogs.com – crazy stuff! I had no idea this was even out there! Intrigued I googled “dog sport” and a whole host of other dog sport descriptions came up. Did you know there is Skijoring? Or Dog Bikejoring? You’ve probably heard of Dog Sledding? But what about CaniCross?

It was the latter that really tweaked my interest. How fun would that be?! Generally I’ve found that people who enjoy their dogs are people I want to hang around. And I can’t think of anything more fun than hitting the trails attached to your dog with a bunch of other like-minded folk. Add in some challenges and an element of competition? I’m in!

From the Canicross website:

7th-15th August 2010

The Trophee Des Montagnes - French Alps

Website – Awaiting new site for 2010 event.

We are awaiting the website for the 2010 event to be published but the dates have been confirmed as 7-15th of August. The event takes place in the French Alps with 12 races over the period of 9 days. The event is a series of races held at 4 different villages in the high Alps, from each location you will run 4 races, sometimes 2 a day and some will be in the dark, bring a headtorch. There are mass starts of up to 100 runners and dogs, handicap chases and relays to be run. You will find yourself running up and down the pistes of the Alps without skis or snow, crossing streams, races cover 3 to 8kms and cover some serious up and down hills. In 2008 one race climbed the height of Snowdon and finished at a cable car station, where you then returned to the start with your dog in the cable car.

These links will take you to the start points of the 2008 and 2009 events.

Alpe de Grand Serre, Vaujany, Auris, Oz-en-Oisans

These maps will show you the general areas that the event takes place in.

This is a truly amazing event, Cush and I will be going next year, so check out your diary and start booking your journey, I know I am.

So just when you think you’ve been sidelined by injury and all is lost, sometimes, it takes a new edition to the family to bring attention to a whole different genr of multisport!

See you on the trail! woof woof