Tuesday 24 December 2013

Spike's Christmas Dreams come true...

Spike's Christmas dream list
We have been an active foster family for several husky rescue organisations.  Our own pack of Siberian Huskies has welcomed several huskies and helped them on their way to a happy future.  Each foster dog has given us something special.  Our experience with one dog in particular left a lasting memory with us all and my time shared with him has helped me to pursue an almost forgotten dream with renewed determination.

Kobi: learning to fly without wings
Kobi had been very badly treated before he came into our lives.  Underweight, flea ridden and absolutely petrified of all human beings he had clearly been traumatised by what he experienced as a very young puppy.  I felt a connection to him the first time I looked into his eyes and believed that I could help him…..

During our short time together I taught him how to love and trust a human being and in return he helped show me that the seemingly impossible can be made possible.

Sadly Kobi is no longer with us as the damage done to him before he was rescued was too severe.   As he fell asleep in my arms for the last time I promised him that our experience together would leave a lasting legacy.  I have remained true to that promise.....

Spike when he was first found
Spike was found hiding under a tarpaulin in Brentwood railway station in April this year.  Dangerously underweight and covered in mange his future did not look good.  But thanks to the kind actions of a local family and their friend he was rescued and then taken into care by Siberian Husky Club of GB Welfare. 

We became his foster family on 22nd April and our objective was to help him gain weight, grow fur and then find him a family that would adopt him and give him happiness for the rest of his life.

Spike rapidly gained weight and soon grew a luxurious husky fur coat.  His eyes shone with health and happiness and his great character and personality shone through.  However we became more and more concerned about certain aspects of his behaviour and his conformation.  He loved to run and bounce around but he struggled to do it and frequently appeared to be in extreme pain.  As time passed we feared the worst.

Sadly our worst fears were confirmed.  Spike has hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, a deformed jaw plus other little issues that we keep discovering as time passes.
However, Spike refuses to accept that any of his “disabilities” should restrain him.  He has an amazing personality and determination to succeed in all that he does.  He loves to run and when we watch him run freely we can easily forget that he has any disabilities.  But then we watch him try to rise from a sleeping position or hobble around the house and are harshly reminded of his daily struggle with pain.  He accepts all that life harshly throws at him and does all that he can to live a normal life each and every day.

We do not know what the future holds for Spike, but if he could write a Christmas wish list I believe I know what it would be.  And this year with the help of a very special Christmas Angel his dreams are about the come true….


The Christmas Angel

It was the night before Christmas.  The last gift had been lovingly wrapped and placed beneath the tree, the lights dimmed and sleepy huskies ushered from the room.  The mince pie and carrot were placed beside the fireplace along with the glass of milk.  A visitor was expected, but no one had foreseen who would visit and what was about to happen….

As the humans climbed the stairs to bed, the huskies settled in their bedroom, but one little husky puppy felt restless and struggled to settle.  All day he had sensed something different in the house.  He did not understand what it meant and sleep did not provide the answers….
As the husky puppy wandered around the kitchen, there was suddenly a bright flash which startled him and he scampered into the corner.  When he turned around, he realised that he was not alone.  In front of him stood a husky with fur the colour of the sun and eyes that sparkled brightly.  The husky with fur the colour of the sun carried something upon his back, something that looked a lot like the bird fur that the husky puppy frequently played with…..

The husky puppy was not scared as there was something about this husky that made him instantly feel at ease.  “Who are you?” he asked of the stranger.

“I am the Christmas Angel” replied the husky with fur the colour of the sun.  “I travelled from afar because someone very special called for me.  She needs my help because she wants to give you an amazing gift, but she is scared and knows she needs the help of others”

The husky puppy was confused, but he wanted to know more as he sensed that the stranger was good and that he spoke the truth.  “What is the gift that you speak of and why does she want me to have it?”
The Christmas Angel smiled and as he did, his eyes sparkled….. “All your questions will be answered this night, but first you must come on a journey with me”

 “I cannot run far without stopping and sometimes I have to lie down as my legs hurt” said the puppy with a forlorn look upon his face.

“I will help you” replied the Christmas Angel.  And with that he did a little twirl and the husky puppy was suddenly on top of his back, between the bird fur, which was warm and snuggly.  “Hold on” he said and suddenly the bird fur grew very big and moved swiftly back and forth.

“Wow” said the husky puppy “you have wings like a bird!”

And with that, the Christmas Angel leapt high into the night sky and soon they were soaring above the twinkling Christmas lights of the sleeping village.

They flew across the world as the husky puppy gazed in wonder at everything on the ground far below and in the sky around him.  The stars twinkled in the night sky and the city lights below them cast light and shadows that were fascinating to watch. 

The Christmas Angel suddenly swooped down and landed in front of a barn where a donkey was standing.  People were wondering in and out of the barn doors carrying little gifts which they were placing beside a manger in the corner of the barn.  In the manger was a sleeping baby.

“We cannot go in there” said the Christmas Angel “you are looking at a vision from the past.  Many people in the modern world have long forgotten about the birth of this special baby and they celebrate something they either fear or do not understand.  I bring you here so that you know why tomorrow is a special day – it is a celebration of this child’s birth day.  It can also be a day of magic if you believe…”

The Christmas Angel once again took to the skies as the people below continued to smile sweetly upon the child asleep in the manger.

There was darkness beneath them as they flew across the sea and then bright whiteness.  The Christmas Angel suddenly dropped from the sky and landed on the whiteness.  It was cold but very beautiful and the husky puppy was entranced by the sight and smell of it.  He wanted to leap into it and dig deep beneath the surface, but the Christmas Angel stopped him.

“No, you are not yet ready to run here.  We are where everyone aspires to be and one must be ready before they are allowed this privilege”

“Where are we?” asked the husky puppy, “What is so special about this place?”

“We are on top of the world” replied the Christmas Angel.  “Imagine what it would feel like to run on top of the world…” And with that, he flapped his wings and they were flying across the world once again.

They arrived in front of a house with a very big garden and inside the house were a little family playing with their little pack of dogs.  All of them were smiling and laughing at the youngest dog that was rapidly dashing from room to room with a big fluffy toy in his mouth.
Spike with his forever pack
“Can I play with them?  Please.” asked the husky puppy.  “They look so happy and friendly and it would be great to be part of a family and fun to play with a fluffy toy”

The Christmas Angel smiled and swiftly flapped his wings.  “Not yet” was the reply.  “I have more to show you”….

They travelled to many places and saw a great many things.  There was a glistening silver trophy, a harness with the puppy’s name upon it and bits of paper that also had the puppy’s name on them.

They flew above a big building where lots of un-well dogs were being treated by special vets.  The poorly dogs went in one end of the building unhappy and in pain and came out the other end of the building all bouncy and happy.

Finally they returned to the house where all the other huskies slept and the Christmas Angel gently folded his wings as the husky puppy jumped onto the ground.

“Thank you” said the husky puppy as he was a very polite dog and was grateful for the experience he has just had with the Christmas Angel.

The Christmas Angel smiled at him and looked towards the little bit of paper that the husky puppy had lovingly carried throughout their journey.  It was his dream list….

Dear Father Christmas,
Please, for Christmas may I ask for…
1.       A family all of my own that I can live with forever
2.       Big strong legs that don’t hurt so I can run like the big boy huskies
3.       My own fluffy toy that big boy huskies don’t steal from me
Spike

Dreaming of fluffy toys...
“When you wake tomorrow your dreams will start coming true” said the Christmas Angel.  “There is a family who are ready to adopt you and welcome you into their family forever.  A very special Veterinary is ready to use all his experience to make your legs better and underneath the Christmas tree in the corner is a present that I think you will like…”

The husky puppy was speechless (for once) and gazed in wonder at the Christmas Angel.

“I only ask for one thing in return” said the Christmas Angel “your dreams will be realised if you can make me one promise?”

He and I refuse to accept that we should not run...
The husky puppy nodded and tried to mumble some words, but only a soft woo, wooing noise could be heard.

The Christmas Angel smiled and echoing the “woo, woo” noise he said to the husky puppy “just be yourself, that is all I ask you to promise.  Always be yourself and that alone will provide an amazing gift to the one that wants to help you.  She will share your story and together you will inspire others to believe that the impossible is possible…. but maybe just tone down the barking a little as well as huskies are not supposed to bark!”   And with that there was a bright flash and the Christmas Angel was gone.
Tomorrow is another special day

The husky puppy was suddenly very sleepy.  He closed his eyes and fell fast asleep knowing that tomorrow was going to be a very special day…..







(Photos courtesy of the Coppin family and Ian J Berry)

Sunday 8 December 2013

Spike: against all odds he wants to run


Our foster husky Spike has been chronically lame in his front legs for nearly 4 months.  While his hind legs (hip dysplasia) have improved immensely through a combination of hydrotherapy, exercise and good nutrition his front leg lameness has progressively worsened.
This week we took Spike to Fitzpatrick Referrals to determine what is causing his lameness.  The consultant we met had already been given the full details of Spike’s medical history from our local vet who has treated him since April.  He also had the x-rays of all four limbs taken in August.

Long story short, Spike has degenerative joint disease in his elbows and without surgical intervention it will worsen.  Based on his deterioration in the past few months this means that if we do not act quickly Spike does not have a long term future.
The orthopaedic consultant was able to see the elbow joint abnormalities on the original x-rays.  How much it has worsened since then is presently a guess based on Spike’s behaviour and movement.
His elbow joints will continue to deteriorate and he will require more and more assisted pain relief.  There will come a time when his body will no longer be able to cope with the medication and the pain.
If we intervene with surgery then we can prolong his life and with careful rehabilitation he may go on to live a semi normal pet dog life.

Surgery is very expensive, between £4k and £15k and involves between 3-6 months of cage rest, which as you can imagine would be quite a challenge for a husky puppy.
As we do not know the extent of the damage within the joints, the corrective surgery and rehabilitation is an estimate within this spectrum.

Watching the big boy huskies run....
My immediate thought when told the news was that Spike should not run, full stop.  However, the consultant has advised us to continue doing exactly what we have been doing since Spike came to live with us.  The combination of hydrotherapy and controlled running is without a doubt helping him.  In general he is fit and healthy and the muscle development in his hind legs is helping his hip dysplasia.  If we reduce his exercise furthermore this will deteriorate and we risk a more rapid deterioration in his mental health and well-being.  This is good news as Spike loves to run and when he does not he becomes depressed and stressed. 
Happiness is...
Through all of this, Spike continues to smile when he can and run when he can.  I have no intention of denying him this basic right.
His condition is not dissimilar to the condition of my ankle joint prior to surgical intervention and look what happened there…. For those that do not know me I was advised to never run more than a mile and that I would be a cripple within 5 years…. I refused to accept this and since then have run nearly 100 marathons and ultra marathons and represented Scotland and Great Britain in international competitions.
Spike was born with deformed hip, elbow and jaw joints and his poor start in life has contributed to their deterioration.  It is highly likely that Spike has other health issues that will be discovered over time.
Realistically Spike will never run the way normal well-bred Siberian Huskies can, but he can still have a happy future that includes running - if we can find a way to manage his surgery and rehabilitation.
We have tough decisions to make in the coming days and we will make them with Spike’s best interests in our hearts and minds. 

Sunday 6 October 2013

Spike: the difference a weekend makes...

What a difference one weekend can make…

On Thursday evening my mind went into meltdown as a result of lack of sleep, pain management and too much to do.  Spike was struggling and I could not help him, or so I thought….

A very busy week, concerns about Spike’s progress and the discovery of further medical problems had prompted me to make the decision to severely restrict Spike’s physical activity, i.e. no running.  There were walks/ trots twice every day, but nothing faster than a very slow jog.

On Friday I travelled to London fearful of the future for Spike.  A life of pain and struggling is no life for a Siberian Husky - a creature that is bred to run.  As I travelled to London I was also fearful of my future, I know I am on “borrowed” time as far as my running career is concerned.  Imminent surgery for me is a scary prospect, a future unknown.  Managing chronic ankle pain for most of my life has caused me other issues, one of which is a severely deformed and arthritic big toe.  My “good” leg has had so much to cope with over the years and finally it wants some “down time”….

Caught in the act of ignoring house rules...
On Friday I travelled back from London with fire in my belly and a determination that Spike and I were going to succeed, whatever it takes…

Spending time with Ian, friends and GBR Athletes reminded me of a few things and of how exciting the future is… 2014 is going to be a very special year as is 2015, 2016……. Now is tough, but it is not forever.  Pain can be managed, both physical and emotional.

And so, on Saturday morning I awoke with optimism and excitement… a relaxing weekend lay ahead, one that would involve running, beer and fun….
First step, Spike’s hydro therapy session.  It went well, we took all four huskies to “spectate” and Spike showed off to everyone…. 
And then embarrassed himself by screaming at the top of his voice when the other huskies went towards the exit door…

Next up was a trip to Greenham Common and the Newbury Parkrun course where Kez, Kroi and I run our 15 minute 5ks.  It was nearly mid-day by the time we reached the “start line” and with temperatures approaching 20 degrees, I knew a fast training session was out of the question…
Apple scrumping with Kroi..

The plan was for Ian to walk Spike and Kroft as I ran with the two brothers.  We headed off and within seconds Kez was getting grumpy with Kroi.  A quick stop to sort them out and then we were off again… only to stop for Kez to emmm, I will not embarrass him by telling, but suffice to say that there is always a first time for everything…

Finally in full flow, we fast approached the ¾ mile point to discover off lead and out of control dogs all over the track.  We slowed down and deviated onto the grass to avoid them and by the time we reached the full mile mark we were totally lacking motivation and overheating – both huskies and I.

We jogged the remainder of the course, stopping to splash around in all the big puddles en-route.
By the time we reached Ian and the other huskies I was feeling a little despondent, but accepting of the conditions which were way too hot for huskies – fine for trotting with them, but not galloping or making them “work”.  For some reason I chose to ignore the fact that our first mile was just over 5 minutes, even with two stops and a severe “slow down”…

Playing with the "main man" of the pack..
Ian had been struggling with Spike’s “enthusiasm” when walking him as I ran the others.  Frustrated and with too much energy to burn……  So, I decided to “have a go” with Kroi and Spike, run them together in harness.  Just for a few hundred yards or so, a distance too short to cause any overheating issues but long enough for them to have fun.
It worked.  Spike and Kroi ran like a little dream team and for the first time ever Spike displayed a “working attitude”.  Finally his Siberian Husky genes were winning through….
Spike was a little stiff in the evening and completely exhausted, but a very contented exhaustion – he cuddled up to all the other huskies, trying to be as close as possible to Kroi.
In the morning my intention was for Spike to have a “rest” day while the others ran.  His enthusiasm when I went to put on his collar to take him for a walk made me hesitate in my decision.  I swapped his collar for a harness and headed out the door….

Born to run...
I never regretted that decision.  Spike ran in a way I have never before seen him run.  He did not want to stop and he did not stop “working”.  We only ran a short distance, but it was a breakthrough.  A definite sign that Spike is improving and wants to run.

I then went out running for a couple of hours with the two brothers and when I returned Spike came charging over to me expecting to go out for another run…..

This evening Spike looks stiff in his fore legs each time he rises, but is clearly very content.  He has a big smile across his face when either Ian or I talk to him. 

Next week I am going to try running him again with Kroi.  We are a long way from 15 minute 5Ks or sub 4 minute miles, but there is no reason why we cannot start the journey now..





Monday 30 September 2013

Spike Update: Giving up is not an option...

A sad Spike
The good news is that as each week passes. Spike’s hind legs are definitely getting stronger.  As the muscles around his joints develop, his ability to jump and propel himself around the house and garden improves. 

In his quest for human attention he has become very confident standing on his hind legs whilst trying to sneak a cuddle with any human that says hello to him.  I even caught him “leaping” onto our bed the other day – oh yes, he has also started challenging the house rules – as he rapidly moves into the “teenager” phase of his life….

He weighs nearly 24 kg and has a lovely luxurious coat and sparkling blue eyes.  He eats well, loves to play and tries his best to tease the big boys at least twice per day.  He is tenacious, refusing to give up on things that matter to him – to chase the last butterflies of the summer, retrieve his toy from another husky, be cuddled by a human….

Last weekend for the first time we took all four Huskies to a parkrun event.  Spike loved meeting so many people and had a great time, he even got to sample some rather yummy homemade cake in celebration of a friend running their 1000th race – yes 1000 races, how impressive is that!  I wonder if Kez and Kroi told him about the good old days at parkrun, when we ran together as a team and had so much fun racing against the clock…    

A happy Spike
The bad news is that most days he is lame on both his front legs.  He needs to be carried to bed at night and when he falls asleep he does not stir until I arise in the morning to take the others running.  Some days are worse than others.  Today is a bad day.  He is clearly in a lot of pain and is struggling to move around the house.  Each time he rises from a laying down position his front legs refuse to move properly and he shuffles/ stumbles across the room. 

When I see him like this, I fear the worst.
But then I compare his situation with mine.  More often than not when I stand up, I limp.  The pain in my ankle and my toe causes me to move my body in an awkward way.  It soon eases and by the time I have my trainers and running clothes on, I am ready to run.  The stiffness subsides and I can move “normally”.  The pain may return momentarily when I land awkwardly on the ground or stand on a stone, but it does not stop me doing what I love, I just grit my teeth and adapt my movement accordingly.  I have learned to manage pain and it does not stop me running or enjoying a very high quality of life.  I don’t see Spike accepting a lesser life just because he sometimes feels pain.

Sometimes I need to take painkillers and sometimes Spike needs some help with pain relief, but neither of us will ever be dependent upon it….

Watching him suffer today has helped me make an important decision regarding my future.  I was in denial about proposed surgery to ease the pain in my foot and a worsening condition.  The prospect of a very long recovery and no running for 6 weeks too much to bear.

One day Spike may need surgery.  How can I make the decision to go ahead with surgical intervention for Spike it if I refuse to accept surgical help for me?


In the meantime, we will both continue to do all that we can, and if we linger each time we rise… well that just gives us more time to dream about where we are going…..

Sunday 15 September 2013

Spike update: The husky that always smiles

The smiling husky
Spike is definitely responding well to his hydrotherapy sessions and the personal training plan that I have adapted for him…

He loves his twice weekly trips to Top Dog Hydrotherapy where he gets to splash in water, eat treats and have the undivided attention of all the people in the room!  I don’t like the 4am starts that I have to endure in order for him to make his after work appointments but his happiness and improvement makes it all worthwhile.

Happy husky preparing for his hydro therapy
Sometimes I do wonder if our house is the best place for a disabled puppy to live as he undergoes intense therapy and is supposed to have restricted exercise….
Our family home is a hive of activity, with two full time working and running humans and a pack of huskies.   There is always something happening and it is rare for us to “just sit down”.  We refuse to confine Spike to cage rest as we know the impact that will have on his mental well-being.  As a result Spike can dash around to his heart’s content, get up to mischief and generally live the life of a “normal” puppy…
In action at Top Dog Hydrotherapy

And why should he not do that?  Yes he has physical impairments that restrict his ability, but he knows that.  He knows his limits and when he has reached them he stops.  He may limp for a while and he may be a little stiff every time he rises, but he is happy and that is what matters most.  This little dude wants to run and wants to have fun and I will not refuse him that.
Spike’s circumstances are not far from my own – I was once told I would be a cripple by the age of 30 and that I should not even attempt to run further than a mile….  I guess representing Great Britain twice in ultra distance events has proven that sometimes triumph can be achieved against adversity and the human body and mind is actually a lot stronger than some people believe.
Spike is not human, but in my experience huskies are much stronger and much more determined than us humans….

It has been very emotional recently for Ian and I, all in relation to Spike and whether we are doing the right thing for him.  

Brentwood Station - where the angels found Spike
Ian visited the place where Spike was rescued and we found the people responsible for saving his life.  We owe them so much gratitude for what they did when so many other people would just have walked on by and the result would be that Spike would not have lived beyond the age of six months…

Knowing what we now know has made Ian and I even more determined to ensure that Spike has the life he deserves.  A puppy abandoned by humans, neglected and close to death, he refuses to dislike humans.  He loves people and he loves life, even though he has just reason to hate and to distrust humans.
So, long story short, while Spike remains in our care he will live life as we do.  If he wants to run the wall of death around the garden he can.  When I take him out and he wants to break into a run, I am not going to stop him.

While Spike lives with us and we are responsible for making decisions for him, we will make them based on his happiness.  And to him running = happiness.  Well he is a husky after all!
And why am I confident that our approach is the best approach?
Because Spike is proving to us that what we are doing is working, he is getting better and stronger each and every week.

No doubt I will continue to question my ability to cope with the situation in the coming weeks and months.  Question whether I am doing the right thing by letting Spike live by my convictions.  But each and every time I do I will look to Spike for guidance – if he is happy then I know that what I am doing is right. 
I am a dreamer and as I work towards one of my ultimate dreams, Spike will continue to pursue his own destiny with guidance from us.  I would love for him to join me in this dream and there is a big part of me that believes he will.
No matter what the future holds I know that Kobi would be proud and my promise to him is one step closer to being fulfilled….

(Photos courtesy of tzruns and me....)



Sunday 1 September 2013

Spike update: the water baby husky

It is amazing the difference a week can make. 

Last week Spike had been really struggling and I was so concerned about him that I pulled out of my dream race for 2013.  I did not want to leave him while I went chasing a dream that could wait for another day.
This week has seen a huge improvement in his condition, so much so that I am now creating new dreams and they involve running a very special even with Spike some way in the future….
The water baby...

We have not given Spike any medication since Monday and he also had his first hydrotherapy session.  The two are not directly related, just coincidence.   

The objective of the hydrotherapy is to improve the muscle development and movement of his joints without the stresses when performed on land.  On land as Spike moves a shockwave effect is created that travels up each limb and gets absorbed by his bones, tendons and ligaments.  Whilst these stresses are necessary to maintain healthy strong bones in Spike’s case it can make his condition worse.  Suffering from hip and elbow dysplasia has caused Spike to adopt “wonky” movement in all four legs, from hobbling to a bunny hopping style of gait.

Spike went to Top Dog Hydrotherapy this week to begin the process of teaching his body to walk and run properly.  Spike loves playing water and so we were pretty confident that he would take to the aquatic treadmill very easily.  He did and over the coming weeks he will be returning there twice per week.
The water treadmil
The aquatic treadmill has glass sides, which allow assessment of all movement, gait and stride length.  The water level and speed can be adjusted very easily, allowing various flexion and extension of the joints and limbs.
Watching Spike on the treadmill was fascinating.  Feeling very unstable he initially walked very wide, but as he gained confidence he moved his legs inwards and was soon walking almost “normally” as the water level increased.  He was clearly comfortable with the situation, or perhaps it was the tasty treats on offer that helped him feel relaxed and chilled!

Speaking of treats, I had a very interesting experience with Spike and food this week.  In nearly two decades of living with huskies, I have never used food as a reward for anything that I ask the huskies to do.  They all are trained purely by voice command and their only reward is praise.  None are motivated by food and will happily leave food in preference for a run with me…  Praise as reward has worked exceptionally well for me, but I decided to try a different approach with Spike, who is a very food motivated dog….

On our solo excursions from the house I took food with me to see how Spike would respond.  Long story short, we now have a very obedient dog that will sit, stay and walk to heel, all for food….  A lot of work is still required, but it would appear that using food as training is an easy option for this dog!!

Dreams propel us into action....
We are very proud of the positive adaptation to his challenges of the past week, but Spike has many times reminded us of his fragility and the struggles that he faces on a daily basis. 

His tenacity, my dreams and the support of his growing band of fans will triumph over adversity. 



(Illustration and photographs courtesy of Melissa Simm, and tzruns)

Monday 12 August 2013

The determined mind of a husky…..


Watching Spike cope with his disabilities is a good reminder to me about how to deal with problems and managing pain.

Today I had to cope with a very painful experience and rather than avoid it and wait for another day, (which I nearly did) I thought of Spike and confronted it head on.  Yes it did hurt and did make me cry but it actually turned out to be not quite as painful as I had feared….

Spike never complains or gets grumpy when it hurts or he struggles to do something.  He quite simply either just gets on with what he was doing or takes a split second to reassess the situation and then try a different approach.  If he falls over then he gets straight back up again, with a big husky grin on his face.  He limps and hobbles, but does not halt or postpone his mission.  He is not going to let his hurty legs get in the way of the toy that happens to be at the bottom of the garden being protected by another husky…. 

Colin Caterpillar lives at the top of the stairs
It is hard for this husky puppy to negotiate flights of stairs and when he first arrived he was unable to walk up them without human assistance.  His very weak and fragile body just did not have the strength, even though his little mind wanted to follow the humans…  His curiosity and desire to explore the upstairs world eventually drove him to develop several techniques to negotiate them.

The first technique was to “throw” his body up at full speed, the momentum hopefully being enough to get him to the top.  All the strength came from his front legs and a lot of the time this technique worked and he was able to reach the top.  On the occasions when it didn’t work he would either turn around and try again, or wait until we reached him and helped him up the last few steps.

As he gained weight and started developing muscles, Spike’s success rate using this technique was around 90%.
And as his back legs grew stronger, the momentum required was reduced and he started being able to half run and half walk, sometimes having a little rest before continuing.

In the early days of Spike living with us, watching him going down the stairs was very scary.  We would try and make sure one of us was at the bottom, ready to catch him if he stumbled.  He never did and he learned very quickly to run down stairs relatively easily.  I have noticed that he finds going down stairs and running down hills much easier than going up – rather like us humans!
Here I come....

We made a decision when we first fostered Spike to give him the same freedom and privileges that our own huskies have, which includes free roaming in the house while we are home.  The only exception being that he slept in a large cage overnight.  None of our huskies have ever needed to be crate trained, but as Spike is a foster dog and to make it easier for Spike’s future owners we decided to maintain his crate training.   He has always been exceptionally well behaved overnight taking himself off to bed when he feels sleepy usually taking a few toys with him.

In the past week we have relaxed this rule and not closed the crate door, at the same time we also decided that we are not going to “wrap him in cotton wool” – he will learn about life and coping with his disabilities with as few restraints as is practical.  Spike immediately decided that the landing at the top of the stairs was going to become his new bed.  He scrambled upstairs when we went to bed and remained in that same spot all night until 4:30 am and when I get up to go running with Kez and Kroi.

Last night before around 9pm we noticed that Spike was missing.  He was not in the living room with us, or in the garden, or even in his crate with all his favourite toys….
We soon found him.  Sound asleep upstairs on the landing.  Not only had he managed to open the bottom stair-gate that had been closed while we were out during the day, but he had managed to tip toe upstairs without us hearing a sound.  No clambering or scrambling, more like a stealth move that a panther would be proud of!

Now he has perfected this technique, I wonder if his next personal challenge will be able to lift his leg (the way boy huskies do when passing all trees, stones, lampposts etc….) without falling over…


Friday 9 August 2013

Nose digging is not a suitable alternative to running...

Nose digging?
Apparently what one does to dissipate excess energy....
This week has been a very emotional week.  Facing the reality of Spike’s disabilities has reminded me of my own weaknesses.  The ankle that causes me to limp every day and the toe joint that suffers as a result.  But I will never complain.   I refuse to accept that pain should restrict me or stop me doing what I love.  It would appear that Spike also has this same philosophy as he never complains and is determined to run, each and every day – us humans tell him no, he defies us!

It would appear that this husky and I have a few things in common.  Quite simply we refuse to give up on what we love… 

Anyway, pain and I have a very symbiotic relationship, the more it hurts the deeper I dig and the more inspired I become…. Dreams are created and “dreams are what propel us into action”, well they certainly give me the preverbal kick up the butt anyway…..  Not sure if a husky can be inspired, and if he could I am sure his dreams would be something like “actually catching the deer that ran in front of me” or “running free without the constraints of a human”.

It was with these thoughts in my mind that I started making plans for Spike and I this week.  As we received confirmation of his “disabilities” I started creating dreams....

Spike has hip dysplaysia and probable elbow dysplaysia.  He wants to run but is not allowed to run.  I have half an ankle joint and was told to never run more than a mile.  Well I think the exact words were “you will never run a marathon, but you might manage to run a mile”.   Well, does anyone want to take a guess at how many miles I have run since then?  And while you are playing the game, do you want to guess how quickly I can run one of “these miles” – husky assisted of course!

Anyone that knows me well will know where I am going with this writing…. Spike and I are about to go on a mission and we are about to defy the odds.  Watch this space as one very determined husky and his human helper are going to prove that there are always exceptions to the rule(s).  Dreams will always find a way to win, if you truly believe and are not afraid of hard work and determination, plus a lot of help from some amazing people…


Thank you – those amazing people that are helping Spike are helping us to give him what I believe he deserves.  He wants to run, and he will run.  It is that simple.

Sunday 4 August 2013

Spike's new life: the first step

Dear All,

Firstly I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read this letter.
I hope you are all well and had a good weekend.

On Friday I asked for help for our foster puppy Spike and have been astounded with the responses.  It has rekindled my faith in humanity and I thank you all for that.  In the present day world that we live in it is not easy to ask people to hand over their hard earned money over to a cause that they have no direct control over.

From a financial perspective we were not prepared for the overwhelming responses and offers of help that we received and did not know what the best way would be for people to donate towards Spike's expenses.

We are not a registered charity and if we asked people to donate to a charity we could not guarantee that all donations would be attributed directly to Spike.

There has been an offer to pay for all Spike's immediate veterinary bills, an amazing and very generous offer indeed.

Spike is now booked in for his x-rays on Tuesday, at which point we will hopefully know exactly what we will need to do to give Spike the best future possible.  We intend to do all that it takes to give him the quality of life that he deserves, for the rest of his life.

If you are happy to donate towards these costs, we would be extremely grateful.  We have set up a PayPal account for Spike - spike@huskiesrunning.co.uk.

We have also set up a Facebook page for people to follow Spike's progress and will also share all the costs incurred in helping him, so you know exactly where your money is going.

Thank you kindly for any help and support you can offer.

I have a dream that one day Spike will run as a husky should run and one day we will run a marathon together.  I was once told I would never run further than one mile and I have much less attitude and determination than a husky....
 This will involve more than just veterinary treatment, there will be hydrotherapy sessions and special supplements and toys to keep him entertained on the days when he needs to "rest".  He is a husky and huskies do not cope well with restricted exercise.

I am a dream chaser and this is one dream that I would like to catch...

Sandra xx

Friday 2 August 2013

The Spike update: our life with a foster puppy...

It has been a while since I spoke in detail about Spike, our latest foster husky puppy.  He has now been living with us for four months and so much has happened in that time.

Spike!!
He has grown from a scrawny, bald 6 month-old puppy weighing less than 9kg, to a very hairy teenage husky weighing nearly 22kg!
He still loves people and remains the cuddliest husky I have ever known.
He loves food, all food and eats food quicker than Usain Bolt can run 100 metres.
He loves all toys, but destroys none.
He steals apples from the orchard… and then shares them with the gravel in our backyard.
He barks – that will be the “non-husky” part of him…
He has been on holiday with us and loved it. He got to swim in the lake, play with the children and watch humans run up and down a mountain, then drink beer and eat pizza.
Playing with a toy
He has started learning how to swim.
He still chases butterflies.
He loves to play with Kroi, Kez and Krofti – oh yeah, he even has the old boy won over…
He has never stolen anything, destroyed anything or even broken a “rule”…. Well perhaps that is not entirely true as he may have “bent” a few….

However, it has not been all good news.
Chilling with the Huskies Running team on holiday
A home was chosen for Spike, a “forever” home where Spike would live for the rest of his life.  We were optimistic that it would be exactly that…..
Sadly within 2 days Spike was back with us.
The chosen home were not able to cope with a happy, bouncy husky puppy wanting to learn about the world and where he fitted in it….

Before we considered other potential homes for him we decided to return to the vet to discuss the weakness in his hind legs.  A problem we have been concerned about since the day we met him.  It has improved immensely, but remains “not right”.

Long story short, this poor little puppy has hipdysplasia.  So much now makes sense with this diagnosis.  He has developed phenomenal pulling power in his forequarters, compensation for the weak hindquarters.  He refuses to accept his “weakness” and just gets on with life and makes the most of what he has.
Me, on the other hand struggled to cope with this revelation.  I had spent so long gently exercising him and then running very slowly and very short distances with him.  Watching his strength develop as quickly as his love of running I started dreaming of us running together…. One day adding him to the two brothers’ Huskies Running team and running a very, very fast mile together….

I solve problems by running.   I achieve all that I do with huskies through running.  Together we learn about life and understand each other.  Running is what we do and we do it well.  It had never entered my mind that running could potentially be detrimental to a husky.

Spike cannot run just now.  One day in the future Spike will be able to run again, but not until he is fully grown.  With the right rehabilitation and care he has a brilliant future ahead of him as a pet dog.  He will never be able to run in the way that well-bred Siberian Huskies can, never run ultra marathons for fun or run forever and a day.  Well if you believe the experts then he never will, but did a doctor not once tell me that I was a cripple and would never run again?  “Never” is such a very long time and what do these experts really know about the ultra-running mind and body of human and husky….

With his friends, during "Spikey Ultra"
So as we came to terms with Spike’s condition we considered his future.  His exercise needs to be restricted, which outside of our house and garden is easily controllable.  However our huskies do not know a life of restricted exercise.  They can gallop around to their hearts’ content any time of day or night and our large garden has become a husky “running track” to rival the Olympic Stadium.  We cannot completely change their lives for the needs of one husky.  Spike loves to play with our youngest husky and when together they are very competitive with each other.

We decided that Spike’s best option would be to go into long term foster care with foster carers more ale to provide for his immediate physical needs.  Unless an adopter came forward that was happy to help Spike through his adolescence. 

That was just over one week ago.  Things have now changed.
Last week Spike collapsed whilst out walking and I feared the worst.  I thought that his hips were worse than we thought and that the pain was just too much for him to cope with.  However as he regained his composure and started walking I could clearly see that it was his front legs that were causing him pain.

He appeared to recover very quickly and by evening was dashing around the garden with Kroi, but it was clear to see that he was lame, just not obvious which leg was the problem.
Thoughts of elbow dysplasia sprung to mind, if he has hip dysplasia then potentially he could have it in his elbows as well.  Since day one I have dropped hints about where I think his genes come from as I do not believe he is full Siberian Husky.  My first guess was German Shepherd, for so many reasons both physical and behavioural….
Closely monitoring Spike over the past week, we have seen him gallop around, oblivious to any pain and we have seen him struggling to walk on three legs, or even walk properly on any leg for that matter.

He visited the vet this evening with Spike, a vet that I trust implicitly.  I have spent my entire life searching for such a vet.  Now is not the time to give reasons why I have reason to not respect or trust vets, but I could give you so many…..  Please just believe me when I say that I trust what he says…

He spent a very long time with Spike today.  He gave Spike a very thorough examination and there were only two points when Spike reacted, showing clearly that he was in pain.
Our vet believes that Spike has panosteitis, PANO for short.  German Shepherd owners know about it even though it is very rare.  The only way of confirming this diagnosis is by x-ray.
If it is confirmed as panosteitis then it can be treated and Spike will have the future that he deserves.
And this is where we need your help.  I know that if I contact the welfare organisation there will be no hesitation is agreeing to have Spike x-rayed.  I also know that SHCGB welfare do not have a lot of money to fund every request that comes their way….

So now I am going to be very blunt.  We want to help Spike in every way possible and we need financial funding in order to do this.  Love will only help him so much…

Ian and I do not ask for much from others, but we are about to, for Spike.


 











Sunday 28 July 2013

The Spikey Ultra

Spike
This weekend I was going to run an impromptu 24 hour event.

I had been very kindly been offered a last minute entry and although I have not done any specific 24 hour training, I was going to seize the opportunity to use the event as preparation for the Ridgeway dream. 

I was also very excited at the prospect of spending a weekend with a very good friend and hopefully help her achieve her dream…
However, a situation on Friday morning with our little foster puppy changed everything… 

Spike has recently been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, probably as a result of very bad breeding practise and a very poor nutritional start in life.  Since he has been diagnosed we have been managing his condition as best we can until a new foster or adoptive home can be found for him.  We would love for him to stay here but it is not in his best interests.  Our dogs have complete freedom to run around the house and garden.  Spike needs to have certain restrictions placed on his exercise until he is fully grown.  We are not able to do that for him as he is very competitive with our younger male and they will race each other around the garden at every opportunity.   We simply cannot provide the life for Spike that he needs just now.  Given time and the right rehabilitation Spikes future prognosis is very good.

However, on Friday morning, Spike collapsed.  He appeared to totally break down whilst we were walking.  There was an incident minutes before involving a kamikaze rabbit – it ran past the huskies on a very narrow path as I held them steady, and then repeated the death dash going the other way….  I managed to keep all huskies’ teeth away from it, but I think it “nutmegged” Spike.

I immediately feared the worst and that his hips had given way.  However as he recovered I was able to ascertain that it was his front legs that were causing him strife.  I could not work out which one as he appeared to intermittently limp on both.  Thoughts of elbow dysplasia sprung to mind.

After this frightening incident I knew there was no way I could leave him for the weekend.  I needed to know what was going on and what we needed to do to help him.  I needed to be there for him and take care of him and not gallivanting in Derbyshire.  I didn't even want to go to work in case he suddenly worsened...

I had a terrible day at work on Friday, dashing away from a meeting to come home and check that he was okay, before dashing back to work for another meeting…. He was absolutely fine and playing enthusiastically with Kroi.

On Saturday morning I awoke feeling exhausted, but relieved that I had made the right decision.  Spike had improved a lot in 24 hours and had spent a lot of time charging around the garden with Kroi, dispelling rumours that ED was to blame…

I looked at all the gear I had packed for my 24 hour event and all the food I had carefully planned and prepared and then I looked at Spike.  As he tried to jump on the bed to say hello, I felt a plan forming in my mind.  I has prepared all week to run a 24 hour event, had everything all set up, why not just go out and run my own ultra.  I could run all day if I wanted to.  I could run lots of different laps, each time returning to the house to check on Spike (and the other huskies) and feed myself at the same time before venturing back out for another run.

And so the idea was born and “The Spikey Ultra” became an event.  No medals, t-shirts or goody bags on offer, just the pleasure of running for as long as I wanted to.

It had several stages, and now I will share them with you all.  Sit back and enjoy the run…

THE SPIKEY ULTRA
Stage 1: Resistance & Patience Training
It was only fitting that I commenced the Spikey Ultra with my four training partners – the huskies.  However walking/ running with all four is a very hard thing to do.  I have three huskies with a working attitude and one husky that is more dog than husky.  One of the three “working” huskies is nearly 13 years old and is very heavy coated.  He is also quite a lazy dog and although he “works” it is at a slow pace.  The “dog” amongst the huskies likes to chase butterflies and wander from side to side….

I should add at this point that the vet's advice is that Spike is okay to jog very gently, but we need to avoid him bounding.  He has developed a gait where he uses his front legs to power himself along, avoiding the need to engage his weaker hind legs properly. 
We all survived the walk/ run although I think Kez and Kroi were rather frustrated at the extremely slow pace and short duration.

Stage 2: Triathlon Training
Just Kez and I, off we went back up my favourite hill. 
I love running with Kez.  He is quite simply an amazing athlete and knows me better than I know myself.  Last week for example when I was frozen solid in fear of my life atop Mount Snowdon, he knew what to do.  He stood by my side and tip toed down the steps, constantly glancing round to look at my face and check I was okay.  I followed where he led, trusting him.  Every time I stumbled he froze, as if knowing that running forward whilst attached to me would cause me to lose my balance.  He just knows what to do and never lets me down.  He helps me run faster when I would slow down – I see his enthusiasm and don’t want to let him down, so I speed up…. He is a full and proper husky and yet he has overcome his natural instinct to pull and only does so when I ask him to.

It was hot today and we took it easy.  For those that worry about the fact that I was running with a husky in hot weather, please do not fear, Kez lets me know if he is unhappy or uncomfortable.  We plan our routes near rivers and he will head towards one if he thinks he needs to.

As we neared the end we went via the local Ford and Kez had a little paddle, almost swimming in the deeper section.

Stage 2: Entering Jurassic Park
Next up was Kroi (pronounced Kree), baby brother to Kez and already showing all the attributes of his elder brother, only with a little bit more enthusiasm and less regard for my well-being….

I chose all the shady sections along the river valley for Kroi as he is not yet of the calibre as his elder brother.  Keep the river within 30 seconds of running was my plan – in the end I had nothing to worry about, but it is always best to err on the side of caution.

I decided to take Kroi on a route he has not been on for a very long time.  Over the winter and most of early summer it was completely flooded and inaccessible.  However I wandered down there a week ago and was astounded with the change.  It was a route we used to travel on most days before the flooding, but it has changed so much.

The plant life is different and appears almost like a new world….  When I broke trail through it a few weeks ago it reminded me of a scene from Jurassic Park where the Velociraptors suddenly attack…
No dinosaurs today, just a human and husky wandering down a narrow path.

Stage 3: Strength Training
Each time I returned to the house I heard reports on the radio about how bad the traffic was in and around Salisbury.  I needed to get some food for the Huskies and thought I would combine my ultra run with some food shopping.  I decided that the frozen meat from Pets at Home would be the best option transportation wise.  So off I headed with a back pack capable of carrying a large quantity of meat….
Now is not a good time to have 4kg of frozen cow on my back...
I took a little detour en-route, just because I could and by the time I arrived at the pet store I was a little hungry and thirsty.  However not so bad that I was tempted with Pedigree Chum…

4kgs of meat purchased, I loaded my ruck sack and questioned my sanity.
Fortunately (or careful planning) there was a supermarket nearby and I was able to get food and drink, whilst taking advantage of some freebies from Clover – did you know that Clover upon a scone is most delicious when you are absolutely starving?  I am sure it is equally delectable when one is not so hungry…

For some reason I decided to take the long way home and over Laverstock Down with my rather heavy load upon my back.  I also decided to run through a herd of pregnant cows.  I apologised to Bessie as I ran past her with one of her relatives in teeny pieces upon my back and about to be fed to some huskies…
Stage 5: Refuelling Stations that provide hydration & Nutrition

Oh yeah, I ran to the pub.  Not the local pub though, one that is a few miles away.  I found Guinness and water there, which I suppose is no great surprise…

Heading homewards again I scoffed three Cliff bars – yes you did read correctly.  I was very hungry and Clif bars are mighty fine especially when combined with a Yorkie bar and I am most certainly a girl!!

I also changed into my Scott Kinabalus for the pub run.  I had been wearing Scott AF Trainer but they are a slightly smaller size than the Kinabalus and my previously injured toes were suffering a little.  Larger sized shoe solved the problem.

Stage 6: Running with the boys again


I forgot to mention, during Stage 5 I got soaked right through to the bone.  By the time I arrived home I was freezing cold and could not use my fingers properly.

Coffee and change of clothes required.  Scott  Next2skin and Salomon Benotti jacket adjourned, I was soon ready for more action.  As it was cold and wet and nearly evening “walky” time, the huskies all got called up for action.  The plan was one husky per run which provided a perfect time for some “one-to-one” training.

Stage 6: Running with the Inspirer
It seemed only fitting as this very special ultra run came to an end that I shared it with the one who inspired it all.  Half walking half trotting we headed back up the route where it all began nearly 12 hours earlier.  I had to keep asking Spike to slow down, fearful of his frail little body.  He looked so happy jogging along, coming back to me every time I called him.  I am so going to miss this little guy when he leaves us for his new life.  I also noticed that the best exercise for him is down-hill running.  He does not try to “bound” or pull his body forward.  Instead he fully engages his hind quarters as he descends.  Lots of this type of movement will help his muscles develop and protect his joints.

As we neared the end of our adventure I felt a mixture of emotions.  I was physically not anywhere near breaking point and yet I knew I needed to stop as huskies had to be fed and it was going to be getting very dark soon.  I had been running for over 12 hours, what was I going to achieve by continuing until breaking point, a point I did not know was.
A Spikey Challenge...??

I had learned enough this day to know that the dream I have for the last weekend in August remains true.  If I continue to believe, then I will achieve it.  Today my mind and body worked together in a way that I have never previously known.  12 hours of running with no pain, no discomfort, no upset tums, in fact no negativity whatsoever and I got to share parts of it with my training partners.

Today was freedom running at its best, mind and body working in harmony, but I cannot help thinking that a very special “Spikey Ultra” for charity would be a glorious thing to do…….