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…

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.

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

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.

 

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…….

Smile - you never know what may happen next.....

Today as I walked down a path I have walked many times before, I did something different.  I smiled at the homeless man with his dog.  I smiled and he smiled back….

I have seen him many times over the years and always chosen to avoid eye contact or his requests for money.  Walked on by, not giving him a second thought.

Today I could not forget this man and his dog.  I do not know their story or why they sit by the riverside begging for money.  I wondered if he has friends or family, somewhere to lay his head at night.  Does he have a happy past, previously lived in a house with food and warmth, with a radio and a television?

Does he want me to give him money so that he can buy alcohol or drugs?  Will he use the begging money to feed him and his dog?  Or is he saving up to buy a new guitar…..

He does not look a sad man, but why does he choose to sit by the riverside each and every day, strumming notes from his little guitar?

Today I was on my way to Fat Face to buy a replacement bracelet for my favourite one that broke yesterday and is beyond repair.  It has pretty little flowers on it and was the one “girly” thing I wear most days.

I could not get the old man out of my mind and I wanted to do something that I believed would help him.  Instead of going to Fat Face, I headed towards the nearest supermarket with a plan.

I was going to buy him and his dog food to the value of the bracelet I has planned on replacing.  As I wandered around the shop I felt a mixture of emotion.  I was excited about what I could buy him and also worried that he might not like what I chose, or may have an allergy or intolerance.  I opted for some straightforward items that would not perish within a few hours.  I got some dog food as well, hoping that his dog did not have the stomach of a Siberian Husky….

I felt close to tears as I paid for the items, not because they exceeded my original budget, but tears of happiness that I truly believed I was doing something good for another person.

I dashed out the shop, suddenly fearful that he may have wondered away from his usual spot.  Sprinting down the town path I slowed as I recognised his shape on the side.

He smiled again as I placed the bag of shopping beside him.  As I reached over to stroke his dog, both man and dog looked at me for a split second and then moved away from me to look inside the bag.

 

As I walked away I wiped the tears from my eyes believing that I had made a difference.  I had taken time from my busy life to connect with another human being and try to help in a very small way.

If there is a moral to this story it is a simple one.  Sharing a smile can make a difference.  It can lead to so much more.  It opens the connection to another being, whether a human being or an animal.

Yesterday I smiled at the donkey in the picture and said hello - he responded by coming over and giving me a "kiss".

You should see what happens when I smile at huskies….. ;-)     

IAU Trail World Championships 2013

Team GBR

In 2011 I fell on a mountain during a race and broke my elbow.  I did not finish that race, but I made a promise to myself as I wept on the side of a mountain.  Two years later I fulfilled that promise to myself…..

Back in 2011, thanks to the awesome Richard Donovan I had the wonderful experience of participating in the IAU Trail World Championships as an open entry, i.e. I was not officially representing Great Britain but was allowed to run on the same course and at the same time as the World’s best ultra trail runners.  I fell, broke my elbow and although I tried, was unable to finish the race.  I remember very well the moment that I quit the race – I was clinging to the side of Mount Benbaun absolutely petrified, unable to use my left arm to negotiate the steep climb.  I somehow managed to reach the summit and safety, but pulled out of the race at the next checkpoint.

My awesome running buddies

To compensate for all the negativity that flowed through my mind for quitting I made the promise to myself that in two years’ time, at the next IAU Trail World Championships I would return, but this time wearing a GBR vest.  On that very same day in 2011 I also decided the same of a very special little puppy… Only 6 weeks old and yet to live with us at that time, Kroi was gifted his name.  “Croi” [kree] in Ireland = “heart”.  Croi became Kroi because all my training partners must have a name that begins with the letter “K”…  Thanks to Kroi and his big brother Kez I found myself in 2013 about to fulfil the promise and “live the dream”.  In two years I have run thousands of miles with them, run for hours upon hours, sometimes at speeds that defy belief.  We run because we love to run, it is that simple and by doing what we love to do, I found myself standing on Llanrwst Bridge with the absolute honour of wearing a GBR vest surrounded by an awesome team of British ultra runners….

I nearly gave up on this promise - when my whole “life and work” balance spiralled out of control.  Thanks to Ian, Nick, the huskies and a few others, including a brillian new job, the dream was achieved along the West Highland Way in April this year – the Highland Fling 2013 gave it to me, without me really asking….

Team GBR on the way to the start

Anyway, moving forward to the present day, I find myself standing on the start line of the 2013 IAU Trail World Championships, this time wearing a GBR vest.  My elbow still aches, not helped by a heavy fall upon it a few weeks ago – it is a reminder of an experience that I will never forget and of a promise that I will now fulfill…

I know that I will not be at the front, or even the middle of today’s race, but I do know that no matter what happens in the next 8 hours or so, I will finish this race today – even if I have to crawl across the finish line.  To wear the vest of one’s nation means to run with pride and with strength, to finish no matter what it takes.  Honour and valour…..

World Champion Ricky leads the way...

The first hill heading into Gwydyr forest was on tarmac, oh yeah the dreaded solid stuff.  I had chosen to wear a new pair of shoes for today’s race – SCOTT Kinabalus.  My beloved Salomon’s were waiting for me on one of the feeding stations, just in case I needed them.  I would have loved to run the full race in my Salomon’s but recent ankle and toe problems ruled them out and a recent introduction to the Kinabalus had me hopeful that pain would not disrupt my run.  With one week of partnership and less than 20 miles of running together, it was a lot to ask of the Kinabalus.

Practising the descent, the day before....

As we headed into the forest and the first ascent, I remembered why I run.  The amazing feeling of powering one’s self for hours, knowing that the end is infinite….  One day I may reach my limit, but until then I do not know where it lies.  Hours of running, eating and exploring lay ahead of me.  Yes I would also find pain, but hey ho I have become a master in pain management, I know how to deal with it!

At the front end of the race there were some awesome performances.  I wish I could write about them all, but I cannot and only a fool would try.  I never saw the winning lady on the trail, but I did see the winning male and a few of his followers.  Ricky Lightfoot glided past me by the side of the lake.  He floated over the rocks and tree roots, a man on a mission and a man so worthy of the title of “World Champion”.  With Salomon on his feet and in his heart I felt so proud to be a part of his experience as he coasted to victory.  I remember my prediction before the start of the race…. I guess I do get it right sometimes Ian… ;-)

It was hot, but it was fun

Anyway, back to my race…. I had chosen to wear a Nathan Vaporshape for the event, to ensure that I always had my CLIF Shot and Bars with me.  It was a strategy that worked well for me as I wasted little time at the feed stations and spent nearly 8 hours being hugged by my backpack.

As I jumped over rocks, negotiated tree roots and cursed the gravel trails I was happy with all the decisions that I made pre-race.  My feet felt good in the SCOTT Kinabalus and my trusty Zensah Compression socks and I had all my nutrition by my side, well strictly speaking by my side and upon my back!

The course was awesome, a well-chosen variety to keep us runners on our toes – quite literally for the fast ones amongst us!  From tree roots on steep ascents to rocks on narrow paths where the long grass tried to mask the obstacles, it was a very well chosen and fun course.  There was even a little patch of mud and a little stream to run down.

No bogs and no scree and no broken elbows, just fun.  But then again there was never the view that the summit of Mount Benbaun provided, oh well I guess one race cannot provide everything….

Having fun doing what I love...

Ricky won the race and Nathalie won the ladies race.  Awesome and awe inspiring performances from both athletes.  Ricky and his GBR team mates helped secure team gold for GBR, Nathalie secured gold individually and for her French team mates.

In the ladies team event brilliant performances from Jo Zakrzewski (hot on the heels of her amazing Comrades performance), Fionna Cameron (WOW! What an amazing GBR debut – star of now and the future for sure) and Tracy Dean (another awesome performance on her GBR debut) secured bronze for Team GBR.  Izzy Wykes showed amazing strength of character when an inappropriately placed quad bike obscured a marker on the trail and sent her off course.  Izzy soon bounced back and obliterated the common myth that females don’t have a good sense of direction when she found the trail again and flew onwards to the finish!

Me?  I loved my run.  I got to eat croissants, maple pancakes and CLIF bars for nearly 8 hours whilst enjoying the fabulous scenery that Wales provides.  I had fun, I smiled a lot and I ran the dream.  The huskies watched as I ran, Ian and Amanda looking after them for me.  Not sure if I have mentioned Amanda before?  The most awesome person and best neighbour one could ever dream of having.  Just don’t ask her for an opinion of travelling by train from South of England to North Wales…..

My ankle allowed me to remember how to manage a familiar pain and my shorts gave me an experience that I have never had before – how can one pair of shorts create gouges that look like you have been attacked by a tiger’s claws??!!

Kez assessing my new "K" training partner - Kinabalus

And how did the Scott Kinabalus perform?  Brilliantly.  Very responsive on the technical sections of the course they also provided ample cushioning on the hard packed gravel sections.  There was not much mud on the course, but the little sections that we did encounter was no problem and the grip was good.  I think I may well have found another awesome training partner.  Do you think it is mere coincidence that their name begins with the letter "K"....

Before I go I have one last person that deserves more than just a mention.  Without Ian’s support I would not have been on the start line.  I would not have had the honour of representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the second time in a lifetime.  I would not have fulfilled my promise and lived the dream.

(Photos courtesy of tzruns)