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..

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 1000^th 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…..

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....)

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)

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