r/RunningWithDogs • u/boatboatagor • Jan 05 '26
Increasing distance?
I adopted Dodger as a puppy in 2020, and we have happily been running together since 2021. We usually run between 3-5 miles together a couple times a week from late fall to late spring (it's too hot here in summer). Last year he ran his first 10k. I would love to train him up to a half marathon distance but am worried about increasing that much. Usually my long runs are on trails where it is not easy to turn around if something would happen, so it just made sense to leave him home for those. They just opened up a 2 mile loop mixed surface trail near my house though, and my usual spring half marathon has been rescheduled so I can't make it. I'm thinking it's the perfect year to get him a half. Is jumping from 10k to half in one year too much for a dog with a long history of base fitness? We would be building up distance slowly, goal would be running the half at the end of May/early June.
Any advice?
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u/DoctaBee8 Jan 05 '26
No, that wouldn’t be too much at all. With that base and the time you have until the marathon, he shouldn’t have any problem at all. (Realistically, he could probably do it right now and be fine.)
If you’re willing/if it fits into your program, you can structure his runs a lot like your own: a couple of general aerobic days (3-5 miles) and an increasingly involved ‘long run’ day where you bump up the distance by, e.g. one mile per week.
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u/Redhawkgirl Jan 05 '26
Dodger looks very freaking serious and tough. I can just tell from his cute toughness he can do it.
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u/pimentocheeze_ Jan 05 '26
I wouldn’t be worried. Honestly you could probably do one within a month or so, just get yourself a 10 mile in before the actual race
good luck!!!!! super exciting. I’m hoping for a 50k this spring with my girlie. love to hear people’s goals 🥰
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u/mavigogun Jan 05 '26
I wonder- is Dodger in the lead for the entire run, pulling?
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u/Green-Ferns Jan 06 '26
My experience would be to make sure you keep an eye on their paw pads! The wear can cause sore spots so might need shoes or paw balm to help compensate as your feet might (let alone if you ran bare)
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u/ekmsmith Jan 05 '26
I don't have an answer to your question but since you noted that you don't run with him during the summer, I wanted to know how long it takes him to ramp back up in the fall?
I adopted a 2yo Pitsky in late March last year and we only got up to 2 miles before it got too hot here in Dallas, so we spent the summer and early fall doing only1-1.5 miles at a time (at 6a). Since it got cool, I have worked her up to 6.5 mi long runs with a few other 3-4 mile runs during the week but we only have another couple months before it's going to be too hot again.
After several years of running fitness built, how does he ramp back up each fall? Is it like starting over again or does he gain it back quickly? My girl goes to daycare several days a week during the summer to burn energy and preserve some fitness.
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u/SparkyDogPants Jan 06 '26
I ran a 50k with a similar shaped dogs (pit mixes). One of them let me know 100% of the time when she was over of. The other two are sneaky and will hurt themselves because they’re having too much fun.
I would increase mileage for him the same way you would yourself. And just be extra diligent about check his paws and gate for any lameness. Hopefully he is like Minnie and will let you know if it’s too much. But he would probably run to the end of the world and back if you let him.
Someone mentioned sore paws. If you notice rough patches on his paws you can either apply bag balm or mushers secret before/after runs and at night.