capellalayla wrote:

There's a meme out there that says women spend a third of our lives trying to figure out where mysterious bruises come from. I'm sure it's not factually correct, but funny nonetheless!

There's a big round one on my butt...Wayne and I are pondering "the end of the WalkyDog?" "The point of the seat?" "No, no - it must be the brake handle!"

lol

We went bikejoring with our Boston Snow Dogs folks yesterday at a really awesome trail up in Auburn, New Hampshire. Nice and wide, well-groomed trails that are pretty easy to follow. Apparently a lot of the pros use them for training, as was evidenced that morning, when we let a pro team of Alaskans head out before us. Luckily we didn't run into them again on the trails, and thankfully I didn't take a spill this time! Layla and I ran about 5.5 miles together, and by the end she was pretty beat.

Pics aren't from me but are courtesy of one of our members.

At the end of our run, me and a cut-off Layla


Layla greeting Shelby, with Sebastian and his mom in the background


Group photo! Of course, you can hardly see Layla, who's found something on the ground to sniff  


Another airborne shot of Layla pre-run. Shelby says, "What's going on here?"

Look like a lot of fun, Liz Layla is so pretty - I love her white shawl.

How long does it take for you to do 5.5 miles with Layla? I'm trying to figure out how fast is safe for a husky to run continuously.

Those are great pics Liz!! Layla is sooooo happy when she is out running. I adore her jumping pic. You both look happy and great!

very cute picture of Layla in the air. very beautiful pictures, beautiful trees and nice wide trail. look like you guys had a lot of fun.

amymeme wrote:

Look like a lot of fun, Liz   Layla is so pretty - I love her white shawl.

How long does it take for you to do 5.5 miles with Layla?   I'm trying to figure out how fast is safe for a husky to run continuously.

It was fun! The trail was one of the best we've been on yet, and it's only about 40 minutes from home.

We weren't running 5.5 miles continuously. The first 3 miles or so took probably about 40-45 minutes or so. Then we went around partway, which took about another 20-25 minutes. So, all in all I'd say 5-6 miles is about an hour-long trip if taken continuously. Layla was really tired at the end, though, even with plenty of breaks for rest and water!

amymeme wrote:

How long does it take for you to do 5.5 miles with Layla?   I'm trying to figure out how fast is safe for a husky to run continuously.

So glad to see other bikejorers/dog scooterers (is that a word? It is now!) on here. Our daily loop is 5.4 miles, and we do it 5-6 days a week. On a good day, it takes us 45 minutes. On a slower-paced day, it takes about an hour. It all depends on the weather and wind resistance. The dogs run faster in cooler weather, plus the cooler air drops the animal/critter scents down to the ground, so the dogs pull harder and run faster when they pick up on various jackrabbit and coyote smells. Our record so far is 14 miles. We run non-stop, and have trained and built up to that distance. I'm sure they could go a lot farther, but we are limited here on base and don't want to be around moving cars or people and dogs walking as we pass.

I give my dogs water once we are done, so there is no risk of bloat or other medical problems due to drinking during an extensive and strenuous exercise. I let them pull and set the pace, and I just motivate them with commands and songs. YES! I sing to my dogs as they OBEY and RUN and PULL (in that exact order of importance). Certain tunes inspire them to run faster, and they are all songs I made up, usually singing about the dogs running in front of me (see lyrics below). Ha! I'm sure if there are people out in the desert listening to us, they probably think I'm nuts. I know voices travel, and I sing loudly so all the dogs can hear me. Must look/sound pretty funny, not only because I'm a random guy being dragged by 4 big dogs, but that I'm singing my heart out as we pass.

"BIG KING KAZE, BIGGEST KING AROUND.
BIG KING KAZE, BIGGEST KING IN TOWN!"

"WHAT DO YOU SMELL? WHAT DO YOU SEE?
WHAT DO YOU HEAR? WHAT COULD IT BE?
OHHHHH, LUDICROUS SPEED AWAY.
PUPPY POWER IS ON DISPLAY!
RABBITS AND COYOTES BEST STAY AWAY!"

Singing is a great idea! Not only would I think it's a great motivator for the dogs, but it could also scare away woodland critters that could distract the dogs and possibly even let nearby hunters know you're around. In New Hampshire, where a lot of mushers train and run, there's a big hunting culture, so we dog people have to be extra careful during hunting season.

We did some training yesterday, another 5.5 miles at the same trail as last week (and the same trail as the race we entered next weekend). Pics to come! Now that I'm a member of the New England Sled Dog Club, which holds a lot of the local races throughout the season, we'll probably enter more races this year!

I've also got to figure out a good way to take photos while we're actually running. I don't have a Go Pro or anything, just my handy iPhone 6, but as you can imagine without some kind of contraption to hold it steady on the bike, it's really hard to take good photos while bikejoring!

Pics from yesterday's 5.5-mile training session. I took some, and another Boston Snow Dogs member took others.

We tried to get another jumpy Layla pic, but this time it didn't work so well ...




Layla posing with her pal Sebastian


Mid-shake during a water break


Pretty Layla


"When are we going to get back on the trail, already?!"


Reflecting on life with Sebastian


Hanging out with Miakoda

So much fun Liz! Layla is still a most pretty girl

She always looks like shes having so much fun!
I love her in her purple xback very fitting

Thanks, ladies! Layla's a happy girl. I can really sense her gratitude after a good run. I can tell by the look in her eyes that she's thankful that she's able to get out and run and that we can share this pastime together.

Yes, purple is definitely her color! Her Urban Trail harness from Alpine Outfitters is also purple. We use that for hiking and walks.

capellalayla wrote:

Singing is a great idea! Not only would I think it's a great motivator for the dogs, but it could also scare away woodland critters that could distract the dogs and possibly even let nearby hunters know you're around. In New Hampshire, where a lot of mushers train and run, there's a big hunting culture, so we dog people have to be extra careful during hunting season.

And that's another reason why I sing whenever the dogs sense that critters or coyote packs are nearby: to scare them away so we don't have any unwanted confrontations. The coyotes in Oregon would trot across our path 20 feet in front of us and then just stop. Either they were the bravest little dogs on the planet, or they were so shocked to see their brethren dragging a human behind them like a charioteer and his workhorses. Ha!

In Idaho, only once, I've had two packs (or one pack split in half) run along beside us, some on the right of us and the rest on the left. The dogs never sensed them, as the coyotes were sprinting behind some big boulders, but I was higher up on my bike and could see them all. It was one of the most wonderful experiences I'll probably ever have in my life. It was like the coyotes were playing a fun game of chase out of curiosity. We don't have to worry about hunters on base, as hunting is not allowed, but if we were off base, I would feel the same as you!

Wow, that story about the pack(s) gave me chills. That's amazing! We have coyotes here, but ours are generally loners, and I wouldn't want to run into one on a trail. I'm sure Layla would want to play, haha.

That's great that there are good trails and opportunities to run the dogs on base -- and that you don't have to worry about hunters, either!

Liz, Layla is a born racer. I love her pics of her jumping and ready to go. I think this is a great way for you and her to bond, and do something you both love to do. She is a natural at racing!! Want more pics, haha. Good luck to you both next week.

Layla is gorgeous and it is so great to see her doing something she loves! I'm so glad you guys found something fun to do and bond over. I can't wait to see pics from the race!

capellalayla wrote:

Wow, that story about the pack(s) gave me chills. That's amazing! We have coyotes here, but ours are generally loners, and I wouldn't want to run into one on a trail. I'm sure Layla would want to play, haha.

That's great that there are good trails and opportunities to run the dogs on base -- and that you don't have to worry about hunters, either!

Yeah, it was a beautiful experience. I didn't feel threatened by their presence at all, especially while surrounded by maybe 20 at once. We see the loners too, who I think are either scouts hunting for food, or the juveniles who are outside of their pack's boundaries. Paw Paw is the one I have to watch, as he would probably try to take as many of them with him as he could. He has more prey drive than any dog I've ever known.

No hunters allowed to shoot on base, though I've heard some joking about killing coyotes for fun and that they'd just use bows/arrows so there are no gunshots to hear. Sad that they love to kill so much that they're willing to break laws or stoop to such a level just for that thrill or to get a rush.

While I'm here, I may as well update with some photos. And now that I look at it, it seems as if I haven't done so in more than a year.

We didn't get to do much last winter because we had no snow in New England, and when we did the weather was horrible. And summer this year was so hot that Layla enjoyed her walk in the early morning and lazed around the house most of the day while I took baby Tabitha around on outings. But this fall we're back into the swing of things and have been on a few bikejoring trips. We have a "poker run" tomorrow with Boston Snow Dogs. There are stops set up along the trail with a bunch of cards. You pick a card at each stop, and the people with the best hands at the end get prizes. It's an annual event, but it's the first time Layla and I will be running it.

Some pics from the past couple months:

Layla has matured so beautifully. And her enthusiasm for biking is wonderful.

Love her happy face in the second pic!

I totally understand what you mean about not updating. I hadn't done it in almost a year too.

Pics are so pretty with the beginnings of Fall color in the backgrounds. She looks so happy to be out on the trails

A couple more from the past couple weeks:

Relaxing in her hole in the back yard


With her friend Ariel during a break at the poker run last weekend

Aww. Seems like life has gotten the best of quite a few of us.

She really has grown up beautifully. Hope to see some photos of your adventures this fall!

beautiful pics, she looks so happy just running the trails with you. love that second pic, she has a very cute face.