Although I’ve only been running races for a couple years, I was reminded this holiday weekend it’s not always about what place you come in or making a new PR (personal record). If you forget about the competition, racing events are fun!
Petey and I participated in Windsor’s 4th of July 4-Legged Run/Walk over the weekend. Last year, our first year competing as a pair, we placed 2nd, just barely missing out on the first place medal. However, as we stepped up to the starting line this year, it was going to be a bit different. Petey had been recovering from an injury and was about 90% normal. Not wanting to have him take a step back in his recovery, we were going to take this race easy. Instead of racing, it was going to be, as in the title of the event, a ‘fun run’ for us.
As we stood behind the starting line with the rest of the participants, the excitement was palpable. The participants were doing their final warmups, trying to keep their muscles loose. Introductions and ‘good luck’ were being past on. The dogs were sniffing around, tail wagging, making their own introductions and words of encouragement, and looking back up to their owners knowing something fun was about to happen.
Then as the starting song started, all that built up excitement was released, and the craziness began. People jockeying for position. Dogs barking and jumping, pulling their owners. There were a couple kids laughing, doing all they could not to be dragged to the ground by their exited dogs. As the thrills ensued, Petey and I hung back a little watching, smiling and laughing. Luckily and surprisingly no one took a spill.
The Starting Excitement – Video Link
The pack eventually spread out as everyone was finding their pace. It took a lot of effort on my part to persuade Petey to take it easy. That he didn’t have to catch up and pass everyone. Eventually he realized he didn’t have to race and we too found a comfortable pace. We were now free to look around, take in the beautiful morning by the lake, have a couple conversations with our fellow runners, and offer words of encouragement to some of the youngsters racing. Petey also found that at this pace he was free to take a couple pit stops, ‘read’ some of the sign posts, and pass on the ‘word’, “Petey was here.”
Petey still had some gas in the tank at the end of the run, so we picked up the pace a little and finished strong. Both of us crossing the finish line with smiles on our faces.
This years event was less attended than last year, but it was still great fun to meet some new people and to see people and their pets dressed up in celebration of the 4th. It was also awesome to see some familiar pets and families outside of the veterinary hospital and to have fun with all of them.
If you haven’t participated in an event like this, why not? The excitement, camaraderie, family atmosphere (including pets) makes exercising with others a blast.
Fitness For Fido 