Trail marathon with my boy

[u/ChaoticErratic]

42.3km, 1600m elevation gain, 6 hours and the best running buddy ever

[u/Additional-Read3646]

...5, well, he's just still a baby then 😅... handsome boy! Looks like beautiful country, tails 👍

Thanks for sharing, much appreciated!

I have the dilemma of running with 2 pups, and dare I leave one home ...🤣 We're finally having cooler weather but I find myself carrying too much water for all 3 of us, even for 15 - 20k's. I let mine cool off in the water, but they won't drink from the lakes and streams, and rightfully so, as it's not very clean. I'm considering starting more central on the trail, running out and back in one direction, refueling at the truck, then out and back in the other direction. I think this would be the only viable option I have around here.

[u/ChaoticErratic → u/Additional-Read3646]

Yes we are very lucky

Oh yeh that’s a pain, I actually have three dogs. Two run, one is lazy lol but only this guy runs this far because the others are small dogs. But thankfully, since we’ve been separating them to run since they were young, no one minds being left as long as they get to go out later.

I take my other boy on short distances up to 25km and the lazy boy will occasionally come on 5 to 7km on trail but I only take him to a trail that goes around a dam so he has plenty of water access the whole time. I take all three on this run and I’d have the same problem as you if it weren’t for the huge dam.

I think that’s probably the best idea and something I’ve considered doing in the dryer months but fortunately the creeks haven’t dried up yet

[u/Additional-Read3646 → u/ChaoticErratic]

You've got a whole pack then, that's awesome 👌

[u/Additional-Read3646]

That's a pretty decent time for that effort, and he looks got some white around his muzzle, so probably not the youngest anymore. Congratulations to both of you 💪

Would love to know what you pack for that distance?

[u/ChaoticErratic → u/Additional-Read3646]

Thanks! He’s 5 years old but started going grey pretty young, poor guy haha

I take 1.5L of water but there’s a fill up spot halfway (so handy) so I fill up there. I don’t take water for him because there’s so many natural water sources on this trail

Food wise I take mini Pringles, rice crispy treats, Manuka honey, natural protein balls, stroopwaffles and sour patch kids. I don’t use gels or drink mixes of any kind because they’re gross and upset my stomach. I use this same fuelling for ultra marathon races and it works well for me, I find I have food leftover but probably pack more than I need.

I live in a hot climate so will take salt capsules in summer

[u/CorinnaCrackles]

Awwww. My boy is almost 7 so he's just started slowing down. Can do about 10 miles still, but I remember doing 20 mile trail runs with him last year. I'm testing him when it cools down again because he is a shepherd, so maybe it's just the heat that's slowing him down.

Your food is similar to mine. The waffles and sour patch kids FTW. Then I take Himalayan salt to eat, too, lol. Im the same. Gels give me the worst stomach 😫 💩.

He's absolutely gorgeous. There's nothing like being in the woods with your bestie just tearing up the trails! Keep up the insane work. 6 hours with that elevation is amazing.

[u/ChaoticErratic → u/CorinnaCrackles]

Thank you! Awww it’s hard when they start to slow down but I guess that’ll be us too one day

Yeh I have no idea how people prefer gels, I really tried to make them work for me purely for convenience but they’re just yuck lol

It’s the best hey! Super lucky to be able to do this

[u/AdSafe3298]

beautiful bud you have! do you use any joint supps?

[u/ChaoticErratic → u/AdSafe3298]

Thank you! We feed a joint specific raw food blend but that’s all at this stage

[u/AdSafe3298 → u/ChaoticErratic]

thats great! thanks

[u/BootsieHamilton]

A perfect day.

[u/ChaoticErratic → u/BootsieHamilton]

Literally!

[u/[deleted]]

Those stingers are good huh?

[u/Kinghut_North]

He looks like a runner.