We had an absolutely brilliant group canicross run this morning at Eglinton park, despite rather grotty weather:

The group photo was taken before the run of course – before we got rain-soaked and mud splattered! Including me behind the camera we had ten humies (Lorraine, Jordan, Susan, Brian, Tracey & Caitlin, Morag, Lyndsay and Alice) and nine dogs (Mylo, Poppy the Pointer, Beanie, Biggles, Bundy, Poppy the Lab, Jet, Suko & Beamer)!

We’d been for several walks at Eglinton over the past couple of weeks to work out a route that would suit runners of different ability ranges, and eventually came up with 4k, 6k and near-enough 10k courses that overlapped each other so there’d be a good chance that the various groups of runners would bump into one another from time to time:

http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/GammyKnee/4kk08ic6e3iaol8r

Biggles and I did the 10k (well, 9.8k) version shown above, while Susan and Beanie did the 6k. It worked out really well, because the 10k group met up with the 4k-ers at one point, and the 6k never fell far behind the 10k-ers. That’s just what we wanted –  different groups doing different distances yet still feeling that we were all part of the same run.

I was very proud of my little Biggles’ performance. Ten kilometres is at the upper end of my range, but his enthusiasm and timely pulling assistance really kept me going, and I’m certain he loved every minute of it. Some of the time he got to run alongside Huskie Suko and feel like a proper big boy, at other times he got to run with his pal Bundy (who has never pulled his tail, unlike his naughty sister Beanie!) and all the while he was following in the tracks of Poppy the Pointer. We’d met Poppy and her owner Jordan at last week’s Strathclyde parkrun – they’re very capable runners and acted as the pace-setters for our little group, which was ideal because Biggles, Bundy and Suko are never that keen on taking pole position.

The Beanster also had a very good run. She’s really learned what canicross is about and takes her “job” very seriously; she stayed directly in front of Susan through the whole run, refusing to be led astray by sniffs and other doggies. What’s more, because of her agility training she was able to follow Susan’s left and right commands faultlessly at every turning point.

Amazingly the good behavior from our dynamic duo continued when we all went to the cafe for refreshments and a good chin/tail wag. Dogs are allowed inside the cafe (rare in Scotland!) and with Belgian Buns and other goodies on the table I was expecting chaos, but apart from a little woofing when other people came through the door it was remarkably peaceful. What’s more the cafe staff won’t have to worry about sweeping up our crumbs because Beanie has already done the cleanup, and very thoroughly I might add!

Some shots from the 6k route – taken on a previous day when it wasn’t quite so wet:

Plentiful fresh horse poo may be available from the large, stringy-tailed dispensers near the start of the route. Eat it or roll in it, whatever’s your pleasure!

On the way up to the standing stones. A harder climb than it first appears!

After all the hilly bits, a nice stretch of easy running

One of the more attractive bridges on the course

The ruins of Eglinton Castle in the distance

Another easy run leading to the final bridge

The start of the home “straight”, although in reality it’s kind of winding! Less than a 1k to go!

In the film Gone In Sixty Seconds, Nicolas Cage’s car “Eleanor” is fitted with a cylinder of nitrous oxide to give it an extra boost in emergencies. I’ve got an emergency booster too; he runs on methane rather than nitrous oxide and his name is Biggles. Today on our canicross run round Whitelee wind farm he really came through for me as we attempted to reach the top of a particularly testing hill!

Rather than running a circular course, the eight of us (Lyndsay & Suko, Carol Rogers & Jack, Susan & Beanie and me and The Boy) just set off on one of the major routes from the visitor center and ran as far as we could for 20 minutes, then turned right around and ran back. The route took us through some undulating terrain with one long, pretty steep climb on the return leg. I was really dying on that hill, but The Biggly Boy got a timely burst of enthusiasm that helped me keep going all the way to the top.

By the time we got back to the starting point we’d clocked up nearly 7.5k. That’s quite a distance when you’ve only got short white furry legs and your dad is tied to you like a millstone, but there was no sign of flat batteries when we got back home; as I served up his breakfast he jumped up so high he nearly headbutted me, and though he did crash out in style on the sofa later, he couldn’t resist coming to investigate any time one of us went into the kitchen.

Beanie on the other hand snook into our her bedroom and disappeared under the covers for a couple of hours. I don’t think this was indicative of extreme knackeredness though, it’s just what spoilt princesses do on an afternoon. Beauty sleep must never be neglected!

Here’s a little snippet of video from our run:

Parkrun time again, but with one important difference; Susan was on marshal duty so I was to run with BOTH our Beagles. I’ve run with the two of them on on the beach many times, and more often than I had to stop every few minutes either because they’ve tied me up like a maypole with their leads, or because they’ve decided that it was time for an impromptu wrestling match. I feared the worst, but had a secret hope that the “hunt” atmosphere of the run would keep them focused on going forward.

We were joined in the run by Bundy and her dad Brian, and as we approached the starting area Beanie & Biggles predictably bayed their heads off, then got into an even louder squabble over who should have chief baying rights. I kept well back from the main group, and felt confident that this would allow the other runners to hear the starter’s orders. As it turned out, this may have been only partially effective as Susan – who was at her marshal station half way round the other side of the loch – could hear ’em loud and clear!

As soon as the race started I took off the brakes and suddenly I was flying along. There’s a surprising amount of power in two beagles and for the first few hundred yards they ran brilliantly. Further on as I stuck to the grass beside the path, I had to fight quite a strong sideways pull as they kept trying to get me up by the other runners. Despite this we stormed through the first half of the course and amazingly stayed within view of the leaders. Our twin-engined Beagle mobile eased down on the second half of the course, but still we kept up with Brian and Bundy and the five of us ran down the long home straight together.

Shouldn’t be far to go now, but where’s that blummin’ finish line!

Both Beagle cylinders are firing well!

Bundy’s running superbly too!

Most weeks at Strathclyde someone brings along some post race treats for the two-legged runners, and this time there was some particularly tasty tablet and Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers. Beanie did her level best to mug everyone who took the treats, and when she struck out, she settled for mugging the camera:

I’m cute – please give me your tablet!

I beseech you kind sir, give me your tablet!

OI! GIVE ME YOUR BLUMMIN’ TABLET ALREADY!!!

When cuteness, dancing and vocal protests fail, there’s only one thing to try: prayer!

Sadly all Beanie’s efforts won her was a couple of poxy Tesco bone biscuits from my sweaty pocket, but this disappointment was forgotten when Susan returned from her marshal duties. She’d been given the position just before the turning point half way along the course, and managed to record video of all the runners as they passed. If you look carefully around the 1:44 mark, you’ll spot a certain three Beagles making their appearance:

The best bit of the original video has been cut though; trying to be encouraging to one particular runner she shouted:

“Well done! You’re nearly there!” and then as she realized the poor soul had only completed 49.5% of the course, she added “Well not really, but..”
Lift ’em up, then slap ’em right back down! That’s how we roll :D

Many thanks to Scott from The Hub Paper for all the great photos from this week’s run. You can see many more photos from the set here (but that one of Beanie’s food-related prayer is just priceless!)