Healthy Paws Healthy Cause - Spectator Point of View

Before the Race

Walking to the Start

This morning Andrew ran the first annual Healthy Paws Healthy Cause four mile walk/run with both Beacon and Haven.  Andrew of course ran.  He was one of around a half dozen that ran.  The rest of the approximately 80 participants walked!  And I took pictures. 

We arrived around 7:30 for the 8AM start.  Both dogs were spooled and ready to do something.  There were other dogs to see and smell.  They were leashed up and Andrew was in running clothes.  They were ready to go.  Andrew took them on a short jog around the parking lot and met me at the car where we gave the dogs some water before the start of the race.  Then it was time to head to the start. 

After some opening instructions and remarks everyone walked to the official starting line on the sidewalk in front of a shopping center.  Andrew made his way toward the front knowing that he was going to be running.  He wasn't there very long before the person running the race was counting down 5..4..3..2..1..GO!

There were only a handful of people that took off running.  I was sort of surprised that so few were running even if the event was advertised as "fun".  Beacon and Haven were pulling from the start.  There were seven people in front of Andrew.  They had people and dogs to chase plus they had been waiting a while for something to happen. 

Once all of the walkers passed by I went and wandered around the parking lot.  I scoped out where I would take pictures of Andrew finishing and figured out what camera settings I should be using so that I was ready.  Andrew told me that he figured he'd average eight minute miles.  So I had a little over half an hour to wander around. 

I saw a tiny frog that I took some pictures of.  But it was jumping around too much for any of them to really turn out.  I also took some other random photos in the parking lot but nothing worthy of posting.  Once it got to be about 20 minutes after Andrew started I made my way back to where I was going to take pictures.  Whenever I'm taking pictures of Andrew's races I make sure I'm at or near the finish with plenty of time so that I don't miss him or have to deal with getting the camera ready. 

Rounding the Corner

Just before the 30 minute mark the overall winner passed by.  But not far behind him was Andrew with Beacon and Haven.  The dogs (and Andrew) looked a lot different from when they started.  The dogs were no longer pulling and eager to get going.  Andrew was practically dragging them along.  I called their names and they perked up a little but didn't really run any faster. 

Andrew was the second overall winner with a 30:29 time.  He and the dogs got some much needed water and rested in the shade.  A few more people came in minutes after Andrew but then there was a big gap since the rest of the people and dogs were walking. 

There was food for humans and dogs as well.  Andrew ate part of banana and shared a couple pieces with Haven.  He also got a donut.  The dogs got some treats made by a local bakery.  Andrew also got his t-shirt and the dogs got their bandanas and it was back to the shade.
 

The dogs cooled off and looked more recovered after a while.  By this time the walkers were starting to come in.  And Beacon was getting a little stressed.  He started doing his typical barking at other dogs on leash that got too close to him.  At the Doggie Dash quite a few dogs act like Beacon.  Today he was the only one "acting out". 

We ended up separating the dogs so that Haven could go and be social.  Andrew walked around with her while I sat with Beacon in the shade where he wouldn't be annoyed by other dogs (or be annoying himself).  Once all of the walkers returned some prizes were raffled off.  Andrew didn't win anything.  But we did pick up a few freebies that were being handed out. 

Group Pose

When we got home there was a deer in the driveway.  The mulberry tree has berries that are just starting to come out.  So we'll see deer and groundhogs snacking away for a couple of weeks.  We were able to sit in the driveway for a few minutes watching the deer before it ran off.  The dogs were interested but also tired and not as agitated as they'd usually be that close to a deer. 

Andrew and the dogs had a good race.  The dogs had fun even though they got tired and Beacon got a little stressed.  The dogs are currently sleeping and will likely stay that way the majority of the day.  Haven now has three races under her collar and Beacon has one!  

Additional pictures can be seen in Andrew's race report as well as my Flickr set for the race.