Running

[Labradorks]

I'm starting back up running. This time around, I have a dog with the build and energy (Linus). I'll be doing sort of a Couch to 5k deal as I have not run in about two years. I used to run half marathons but don't have the time to put into that type of training. For me it's a bit effort. Five miles is perfect because I can do that in average to good shape within an hour.

Linus is about 19 months now and I feel like he should be able to build up. I'm running with a group and the timeline is the ability to run a 10k (6 miles) by early July. We'll be on the sidewalk. I will take it slow. No hurry. I don't plan on running faster than a 10 minute mile. I mean, really, it's just jogging.

Once we build up, I plan on about three times per week, four tops.

That should be OK, right?

[Dallas dawg]

I'm not a runner, unless I'm being chased. It just made me tired reading what ur going to do. Lol. Just want to wish luck with ur training.

[ChoppersDad]

I'm not a runner, unless I'm being chased. It just made me tired reading what ur going to do. Lol. Just want to wish luck with ur training.

LOL... You are hilarious! I'm no help either. Good luck to you Labradorks!

[Annette47]

That should be fine ... that's a little more than I usually do with Chloe (we do 4 miles 3-4x a week) but she also takes a couple swim breaks along the way which adds to her workout. It's more that there is no where interesting to go to extend it to 5 miles than that she wouldn't be able to handle it, LOL. I tend to be the limiting factor.

Just be aware that running on the sidewalk is tougher on joints (both of yours!) than grass or even asphalt. If possible, maybe you be on the sidewalk but have him on the grass along side? I run on an asphalt bike path through a park, and Chloe ranges along side, usually on the grass but occasionally on the paved part - she's on a flexi so unless it is crowded and I call her close, it is up to her. She also can within reason speed up and slow down, and even stop to sniff and then catch up if she is quick about it.

We haven't been in a couple months due to the weather though - too much ice, but I'm hopefully spring will come eventually and we can go back to it!

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

I'm no runner either, I leave that to Sunshine!! Heck, she tires me out just watching her!

I would worry about Linus's pads with all that on concrete running/jogging. Way back when, I had to move into a city with my first lab. She traveled with me there before but was a country gal. A short time after being in town I noticed her not wanting to walk anywhere. We would start a trip to the store and she would just lie down and not want to move. Took her to the vets and she said it was her pads being worn down from the concrete. I used some kind of salve on them, like a bag balm if I remember correctly, and a week or so later she was walking fine. We took a lot of shorter trips around to build up her pads to "city life" rather than country bumpkin.

My memory of this could be a little faded, they tell me the grey hairs cause it. But if Linus has been doing lots of activity on concrete, he will probably be fine. For my poor country gal, we needed to build up her pads more for the harsh conditions.

[Snowshoe]

I only ever ran on dirt and not sure I'd like it on concrete. I think asphalt would be softer. But I have another comment. When I had a hiatus and started back up I used my watch alarm and did the walk one minute, run one and so on till we were doing about 6.5 km. Jet was a real help. One day the battery gave out while we were walking. I might not have noticed so soon if the dog hadn't clearly indicated she believed it was time to start running again. I bet Linus loves it.

[Labradorks]

In some cases I can have him in the grass and when I can, I will. Good idea. I won't use a flexi because I think he'll use that to his advantage to sniff and mark, which, in a perfect world, is what he'd love to be doing.

I did wear their pads out a bit this weekend. First sunny spring days and I was a walking fool, five miles three days in a row on concrete just soaking up the vitamin D and looking at flowers and blue sky. I just couldn't get enough. They are fine, but I noticed (as they were both passed out on day three) that their pads looked a little "bare" for lack of a better word.

I've always run on sidewalks versus dirt, but I haven't been a runner for long, so unless I go crazy, there should be no ill effects. When I started out, mile 7 was always where I started to hurt, so I had to go to PT to stretch my TI bands, which helped. So, I think keeping it under 7, and 5 is reasonable, I should be OK. Like Snowshoe, I will be doing the walk/jog combo for a bit since I've been out of it for so long. That should also allow his feet to toughen up while he also builds endurance. I will keep an eye on them.

I'm excited to have an athletic dog!

[Annette47]

In some cases I can have him in the grass and when I can, I will. Good idea. I won't use a flexi because I think he'll use that to his advantage to sniff and mark, which, in a perfect world, is what he'd love to be doing.

Yeah, Chloe had to learn the difference between "we're on a leisure walk" and "we're running" because I use a flexi for both, and in the beginning she did try to stop, sniff, mark (even though she's a girl, she's quite territorial), etc. I do use a different collar for walks and for runs, and since I prefer not to wear running clothes unless I'm actually running, LOL, there are enough cues for her to know the difference. If we go out and haven't been on a run for a while, she does need to be reminded not to stop for too long though, but once we are in a regular routine, she knows just how long the flexi is and when she needs to catch up without my yelling or tugging on her. Most of the time though, even with the flexi, she runs in a loose heel position, but she will occasionally be distracted.

There's a woman I see running in the park with her dog, and she uses one of those leashes that attaches to your waist. Not sure it would work for me as I prefer having more control, but she seems very happy with it. I can't remember what kind of dog it is, but it's at least lab sized. Might be a GSD, but I might be confusing her with someone else.

[Tanya]

I used to run regularly with Rocky (5x a week). it was a slow 5km/3mile ish. He was on a hands free, he is pretty lazy so not a puller. i tried to have him on teh side of the path but he spent a lot of tiem on the pavement. never had issues with his paws

I am starting again with Penny, it's been pretty sporadic and the last few weekends hvae been to snowy so we went skiing instead. I plan to cani-cross with her, so she is "pulling" me - it's a totally different harness for her( and a belt to not injure my back for me) so she should know the difference. She isn't quite "pulling" the entire time, it's a work in progress. We do less than 5km now, hopefully we will built up to more. when we did run she seemed to stick to the pavemetn VS side of the path so I will have to work on that- she DOES have sensitive paws so that will be an issue thru the summer (randomly she'll lose a chunk of pad and that's painful! need to find a cream to help thoughen her pads)

5 miles is far, you can play it by ear on what the pup enjoys - I think it shoudl be fine (though some dogs may get bored).

funny ican't imagine running with a flexi, so big and bulky! We use hands free. I am used to managing a hands free and there is a loop at the end to bring in the dog as needed (if you cross streets or go by another dog). With teh cani cross I am just grabbing rope or the end of her harness to bypass dogs

[Carlos]

Since he's over 18 months he should be totally fine as long as you take him through the same c25k program. Let him build up his stamina gradually just like any beginning runner would. From there, he should be able to handle as much running (or more) as you can handle.