Running T-Shirt Quilt

Photo by OHventures

As an avid runner, my dresser drawers slowly began to overflow with race t-shirts I have collected over the many years of hitting the pavement. 

At first, it's really cool to get a new t-shirt every time you run - it can serve as a memento of a great accomplishment and fantastic experience had with friends. But, if you do 10, 15, even 20 races a year like I do, then it begins to take over your wardrobe, and your storage! A friend once asked if I had anything other than suits and running t-shirts, because he'd see me wearing them so often. Unacceptable.

So I decided it was time to do something about it. As part of my 30 Things To Do Before (While) I'm 30, I set out to have a quilt made using some old running t-shirts! It was a genius idea that I had seen before on Groupon. But rather than sending shirts off to a random company, I put the call out to my friends on Facebook to see if anyone had any ideas of where or who I could go to for a t-shirt quilt.

Many people stepped up and offered ideas, but one friend of mine, Rick, stepped up in a big way. He said that he had always wanted to try to make a quilt, but never had a reason to. If I trusted him, he said he would be willing to make a quilt for me. Instead of monetary payment, he said he would like to have a sampling of wines I gathered from all of my various wineries I visited across the state. It was a perfect match! 

I had to figure out which shirts I could use. He said he could take 20. There were some that I didn't want to give up because I really enjoy wearing them and they are too cool to give up. And there are some that - let's face it - are so ugly that I didn't even want them on a quilt. I wanted ones that looked good and were from races that had special meaning to me. So, after meticulous planning, I came up with a good mix of shirts. 

The shirts are, as displayed on the quilt:

Row 1 (l-r)

Capital City Quarter Marathon - May 2013, Columbus

Boardman Memorial Mile - May 2013, Boardman

Capital City Half Marathon - May 2012, Columbus (my first half marathon)

Run With The Pack 5K - June 2012, Columbus (first run I did with my dog)

Row 2 (l-r)

World Fit 5K - May 2014, Warren (my brother helped organize this race)

Selfless Elf 5K - December 2013, Akron

Glo Run Columbus - April 2013, Columbus

Arnold Pump & Run 5K 2014 - March 2014, Columbus

Row 3 (l-r)

Hubbard Public Library Zombie Run - October 2012, Hubbard

Oktoberfest Brat Trot 4 Miler - September 2012, Columbus

Warrior Dash Ohio 2014 - August 2014, North Lawrence

Out Of The Darkness Walk - October 2014, North Canton (in honor of my cousin)

Row 4 (l-r)

Team OHventures T-Shirts (a shirt I designed for the blog)

Warren Kiwanis Turkey Trot - November 2012, Warren (started our family tradition)

Funny Bunny 4 Miler - April 2014, Canton (took place on my birthday)

Foam Fest 5K - June 2013, Logan

Row 5 (l-r)

Akron Marathon Relay 2014 - September 2014 Akron

Bike Columbus Festival – July 2012, Columbus (first biking event)

Dirty Dog 5K Run & Wash - July 2013, Avon Lake

Akron Gen. Birthday Bash Dash 5K - August 2014, Stow (I was Race Director)

These shirts were the perfect shirts to have made into a quilt. And, Rick certainly delivered with a high quality and great looking quilt (not too shabby for his first quilt making experience). Having this quilt has transformed a pile of t-shirts shoved in a dresser into a unique, meaningful and timeless piece of art (that also doubles as a comfy blanket). 

I owe a great deal of gratitude to Rick for making this happen. This is an item I will always value. One look at it brings back a flood of memories of friends and stories I have made in my running career that has truly changed my life in a number of ways. It's something you can't put a price tag on. No amount of wine can show my appreciation for this great creation!

20 Races in 2013

Believe it or not, I participated in a total of 20 walk/run events in 2013, doubling the amount of races I ran in 2012! Most of the events had a fun element added in, such as running through foam (Logan 5K Foam Fest) or running with your dog (Run With The Pack 5K, Avon Lake Dirty Dog Run)! Many were done to support a cause, such as the Memory Walk for Alzheimer's or the Brace Against Hunger 5K. Most were 5Ks, but some were longer, such as the Capital City Patron Quarter Marathon, and some were shorter, such as the Boardman Memorial Mile. Each was fun and exciting in their own way, and I am happy to have successfully completed over 62.55 competitive miles in one year!

Below, you can find links to all 20 of these events from 2013, in chronological order! Hopefully these can give you ideas for races you can run in the New Year!

1. Fight For Air Stair Climb (February 2013 - 880 steps in 7:48 - Columbus)
2. Arnold Pump & Run 5K (March 2013 - 3.1 miles in 20:00 - Columbus)
3. Glo Run 5K (April 2013 - 3.1 miles in 31:00 - Columbus)
4. Boston Strong Ohio (April 2013 - 4 miles, untimed - Columbus)
5. Akron Color Vibe 5K (April 2013 - 3.1 miles in 26:00 - Akron)
6. Capital City Patron Quarter Marathon (May 2013 - 6.55 miles in 56:55 - Columbus)
7. Boardman Memorial Mile (May 2013 - 1 mile in 09:05 - Boardman)
8. Run With The Pack 5K (June 2013 - 3.1 miles in 39:00 - Columbus)
9. Foam Fest 5K (June 2013 - 3.1 miles in 50:00 - Logan)
10. Darby Creek Trail Run (July 2013 - 6.2 miles in 1:03:00 - Galloway)
11. Avon Lake Dirty Dog 5K (July 2013 - 3.1 miles in 32:00 - Avon Lake)
12. Warrior Dash Ohio II (August 2013 - 3.1 miles in 37:53 - North Lawrence)
13. Brace Against Hunger 5K @ Gervasi (September 2013 - 3.1 miles in 24:23 - North Canton)
14. Akron Marathon (September 2013 - 4.8 miles in 39:40 - Akron)
15. Youngstown Peace Race (October 2013 - 2 miles in 14:38 - Youngstown)
16. Memory Walk For Alzheimer's (October 2013 - 1 mile, untimed - Boardman)
17. Ohio State 4 Miler (November 2013 - 4 miles in 33:57 - Columbus)
18. Kent State Stark Turkey Trot (November 2013 - 3.1 miles in 26:00 - North Canton)
19. Warren Kiwanis Turkey Trot (November 2013 - 2 miles in 16:20 - Warren)
20. Selfless Elf 5K (December 2013 - 3.1 miles in 24:16 - Akron)

Avon Lake Dirty Dog 5K Recap

Photos by OHventures and Earth Fare Cleveland

By now, you should know that I am the proud owner of a nine pound pup named Slider, whom I take on various doggy 5Ks, such as the Run With The Pack 5K and the Defend Your Friend 5K in Columbus. We've become nicely acquainted with one another's running style and we seem to work well together now (I am not tripping over his leash or running too fast like I was in the early stages).

On July 21, 2013, I thought it was about time to step it up a notch or two. Slider and I traveled to Lorain County to the town of Avon Lake to take part in the Avon Lake United Church of Christ Dirty Dog Run, Walk, and Wash! There were torrential downpours the night before and the morning of the race. Things were NOT looking good for us! My friends who were planning to run that morning took one look at the dark gray storm clouds and decided to back out. I, however, am pretty crazy! So, I went ahead to the church to prepare for the run.

But because of the friends deciding not to participate, I wound up running with ANOTHER dog in addition to Slider! Our running mate was my friend's 5 pound chihuahua, Max, who was only pushing seven months old on his inaugural 5K run! I was very skeptical for how this race was going to go. The pouring rain and the added canine were not going to make it easy. Thankfully, by the time I arrived on site, the rain cleared up! Not a single droplet fell on me or the dogs for the rest of the day! Praise the Lord!

Walking around with Slider and Max surely attracted a great deal of attention. So many people kept stopping me and asking me about the little dynamic duo, and many people vocalized their disbelief that I was going to RUN the 5K with both of these little guys, especially since a 1-mile walk was an available option. Depite all of the doubt cast by onlookers, I went for it! The horn sounded and the three of us were off and running!

Much to my surprise, running with these two dogs was not as awkward or as difficult as I had thought. I just had to pay extra attention so that they would not cross over in front of me and so that the leashes didn't get all tangeld up! The crisp post-rain air actually made things a bit more bearable, as we did not have to run in 90 degree weather as I have had to in the past.

The course was through a small residential area in Avon Lake, which was a nice added bonus. The pups would occasionally stop to pee and -ahem- other things, which slowed us down a bit. But other than that, they kept up pretty well! Max set the pace, which was very surprising, but makes sense since he is such a young puppy full of endless amounts of energy. He would bark at many of the other dogs though, which was kind of funny.

Soon enough, the course wrapped up and we charged through the finish line in full force! We completed the race with a time of 32:40, which was better than any other dog 5K I had ever done before! This was remarkable, given that their were TWO dogs with me! I owe it to Max, who was the fastest of us all! My time helped land me a prize! I was the 2nd Place Finishing Male in my age group, which meant I got a "trophy"! It was so exciting!

Even though it was not raining, it HAD rained all day and the night before, so the dogs were kicking up a ton of water onto their undersides. Good thing that the "Dirty Dog" also offered FREE dog washes to all those in attendance! We stood in line for a little bit and the pups got all shampoo'ed and scrubbed clean! It was a great amenity and a genius idea (all dog 5Ks should offer this at the end of the race)!

Food, live music, and dog friendly companies were all present after the run. Earth Fare Cleveland was kind enough to give Slider and Max some treats, and snap some great pics of them (below).

This was a fantastic event and a great challenge for me, despite the odds. It was also for a great purpose: the Dog Wash and Dirty Dog 5K are fundraisers for the Youth Ministry programs at Avon Lake U.C.C. Specifically the proceeds from this event are used to help fund the various mission trips that Jr. High youth and High School youth from the church attend each summer.

Run With The Pack 2013 Recap

Photos by OHventures

How many races have YOU run this year?

My 3-year old 9-pound chihuahua-mix just ran his 3rd 5K race in one year. If that's any more than you have run, then you had better throw out all of your excuses and step up your game! 

The 2013 Run With The Pack 5K took place on Saturday, June 15 at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park in Columbus. This was the 2nd year that I participated with my little canine companion, Slider, who has turned out to be quite the athlete, especially for being such a tiny dog (a vet friend of mine said he has "really great running form").

This "doggy 5K" was to benefit Pets Without Parents, an organization dedicated to finding homes for lost, abandoned, and/or stray shelter dogs. Being that my dog was a stray dog whom I rescued from the Franklin County Animal Shelter last year, I had an invested interest in this particular race. While most people who participated had their dogs with them, it was not a requirement. Many people ran pup-less as well, either because their dog was not able to run, or because they are not dog owners themselves (yet still support the cause).

While last year I knew no one who was running in this event, this year, I had a great deal of friends who also took part in the event. My friends Ryan (who attended the A&F Challenge) and Crystal ran with their dog Franklin, my friend Jim ran with his dog Levi, and my friend Matt ran with a "borrowed" dog Mamba. Being that they were all much larger dogs, they all out-performed Slider and me.

Jim & Levi

Unlike last year, I tried to not carry Slider very much and wanted to go completely at his pace. We FLEW during the first mile, as he grabbed the leash with his mouth and zoomed past all of my friends and couuntless others! I was huffing and puffing trying to keep up with the little guy. But, unfortunately, this meant that Slider gassed out pretty quickly, and our final time was pretty much 39 minutes on the dot (which pales in comparison to last year's 33 minutes).

Thankfully, there were water pit-stops along the way, which were very helpful for all of the dogs in the hot weather. I had a special hydration belt for backup, too, which I advise anyone bring if they are interested in doing a dog run this summer (official or unofficial).

After the race, we were able to peruse the various booths that were set up by the finish line. Everything from vets to pet photographers, and even the "Pet Butler" (who will take care of your poopy lawns!). We got a lot of freebies for both the dogs and ourselves, and we got to comingle with a bunch of other dogs and their owners. There were even kiddie pools full of water for the pups to jump in and cool off!

All in all, my 2nd year at the Run With The Pack 5K was a huge success and allowed my dog and I to bond and get in shape while helping a good cause.

Slider: Small But Mighty!

If you are interested in doing a "doggy 5K" in Ohio, see the upcoming events below:

- 5K Freedom Run & 1Mile Mutt Strut - Chagrin Falls (7/7/13)
- Darby Creek Trail Run 5K/10K Run/Walk - Galloway (7/13/13)
- Dirty Dog Run, Walk, or Wash - Avon Lake  (7/20/13)
- Defend Your Friend 5K - Columbus (8/1/13)
- Woodland Woof Walk - Dayton (8/3/13)

- Mentor Mutt Strut - Mentor (8/7/13)

2012: The Year Of The Run

Photo by OHventures

While the end of the world did not come on December 21, 2012 as the Mayans presumably predicted, I sure took the liberty to checkmark as much as I could off of my bucket list, as if the world WAS about to end. What stood out most above all else this year was my constant participation in running events! 

My competitive running amounted to 40.8 miles in 2012, spread amongst 10 different races around Ohio. I began the year attending a kickoff event for the Capital City Half Marathon, where I unknowingly would discover my love and passion for the sport of running!

Here is a recap of my 10 races from this past year, which were all unique in their own way:

1. Capital City Half Marathon (13.1 miles in 2:26:19): I trained hard (too hard at times), got the proper footwear, raised over $1,500 to fight cancer, suffered a knee injury, and ran my first ever half marathon on May 5, 2012 along with dozens of friends and thousands of other runners! This was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my entire life, but also one of the most rewarding! I will never forget it, and hope to someday do another half or even a full marathon!

2. Run With The Pack 5K (3.1 miles in 33 minutes): Fresh after adopting my 2-year old Chihuahua Slider from the Franklin County Animal Shelter, I participated in the Run With The Pack 5K on June 23, in which hundreds of folks ran with their leashed canines at the Scioto Audubon Metropark in Columbus! I was very impressed with my 9-pound pup’s running ability – and his apparent love for it! The registration fee went to benefit “Pets Without Parents” and got me and my dog active and healthy!

3. Defend Your Friend 5K (3.1 miles in 44 minutes): Taking place once again at the Scioto Audubon Metropark, this doggy 5K proved a bit more challenging for my dog, probably because it was on one of the hottest days of the year (August 2), and at 7PM rather than at 8AM like the previous race. Be that as it may, we definitely enjoyed mingling with all of the other dogs and their owners, and of course were pleased to contribute funds to help the Capital Area Humane Society.

4. Warrior Dash Ohio II (3.1 miles in 43:34): On August 25, my brother Curt and I, joined by his wife Regina, ran in the Warrior Dash Ohio II in North Lawrence, Stark County. There was much more than mud at this run: wecrawled under barbed wire, jumped over fire, and jumped in and out of trash dumpsters, among a dozen other obstacles. We celebrated our achievement, got hosed off, grabbed our free beers, chomped on a turkey leg, listened to the live music, and enjoyed being amongst hundreds and hundreds of other like-minded WARRIORS and OHventurers from across the state!

5. Abercrombie & Fitch Challenge (3.1 miles in 27 minutes): After running with my dog (sorry Slider!) and through mud in the last 3 races, I was more than anxious to run a race by myself again! This time, I was given an invitation to run in the Abercrombie & Fitch Challenge on August 30 at the A&F Home Office located in New Albany. My knee was giving me a lot of trouble but I managed to pick a new friend in the crowd (Wes) and keep pace with him! After the race (whose proceeds went to the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute), we got to enjoy food, booze, and a concert by WALK THE MOON!

6. Oktoberfest Brat Trot (4 miles in 34:48): On September 28, the Columbus Oktoberfest added running to its list of traditions by incorporating a four mile (vier meiler) run known affectionately as the "Brat Trot" into the opening day of the festivities. What's best is that after the run, we got to experience all the fun and tasty German amenities late into the evening. My friend Matt and I eagerly signed up for the Brat Trot, in part due to all of the great perks that came along with it – a cream puff, Bahama Mama from Schmidt’s, a German beer, and a technical shirt!

7. Hubbard Library Zombie Run (3.1 miles in 27 minutes): Zombies have become all the rage in 2012, even popping up in running events! The basic premise is that people dress up as "zombies," who, along the course, "attack" runners by ripping a flag off of them (much like flag football). It's an all-out war between zombies and runners, as each tries to conquer the other. My big bro and I took part in a zombie run in our hometown of Hubbard on October 14, and had a blast doing it, even though it was pretty disorganized!

8. Hot Chocolate 5K/15K (3.1 miles in 25:54): Also becoming popular this year was the “Hot Chocolate” races, which benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities, whose goal is to help sick children in need. My sister-in-law ran the Hot Chocolate 5K in Columbus on November 18. The motivation for running in the cold, cold weather was to get to the finish line and warm up with tasty hot chocolate, chocolate fondue, and other treats! It was one of my favorite races of the year (and personal record) for sure!

9. Warren Kiwanis Turkey Trot (2 miles in 18:01): What is now going to be a tradition with my entire family is the Warren Kiwanis Turkey Trot, which takes place on Thanksgiving Day (November 22 this year) and gives you the excuse to pig out later in the day! It’s one of many turkey trots across the state that take place on the morning of Thanksgiving. While grandma is busy preparing the dinner, you can burn some preemptive calories to make up for all the starchy goodness you’ll be eating later that day.

10. Jingle Bell Run/Walk For Arthritis (3.1 miles in 24:39):  2012 was winding down and I had almost fulfilled my personal goal to run 10 races in one calendar year. I had 9 under my belt and just needed one more to cap things off. Thankfully, a friend of mine, Beth, invited me to run in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis on December 1. What better way to end my year of running alongside people dressed as elves and snowmen with jingle bells attached to my shoes?! I also ended the year with a new personal record!!!

I am extremely proud of the 40.8 competitive miles I ran this year (and countless more in training). I hope through this blog to inspire other runners in 2013! Shamefully, I must admit that the jingle bells from December 1 are STILL attached to my running shoes, which means I haven’t even ran for fun in a WHOLE month! When the New Year starts, however, my OHventures running around the state will continue in full force! The holidays are over, folks, as is the year 2012. Let’s take a deep breath, stretch, and get our rears in shape in 2013! :)

Defend Your Friend 5K Recap

Photos by OHventures

If you have been following OHventures lately at all (or my personal Twitter feed), you will know that I have recently rescued a Chihuahua named Slider. It seems like much longer than the 2 months that it has been since I adopted him, as we have participated in a number of fun activities, including a couple of 5K races in which both dogs and their owners participate. The most recent of these 5K races was the Defend Your Friend 5K on Thursday, August 2 at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park in South Columbus.

The Defend Your Friend 5K was our second “doggy 5K” (the first being the Run With The Pack 5K in June) and it proved to be more difficult than the first. It was certainly a hot day, which did not help the situation. However, the main issue, I believe, is that the race began in the evening rather than in the morning. By the time 7PM rolled around and Slider and I were to start our race, he was already pretty pooped. Being a dog of his size (a whopping 9-ish pounds), Slider can run out of energy rather quickly!

The event was put on by the Capital Area Humane Society and was to benefit the organization’s cruelty investigation unit. I can not stomach the simple thought of someone intentionally harming an animal in any way, and having heard some of the stories from the investigators themselves, I certainly was happy to contribute in any way possible to help save animals and prevent them from being mistreated. Any race that has a noble cause such as this gets bonus points in my book!

Apparently this is the first year that the race took place at this location, which led to some confusion it seems, I learned from talking to some runners who have participated for multiple years. I will admit that I was rather disappointed in the number of booths and athletes that this race had in comparison to the Run With The Pack, but I believe there were a number of contributing factors involved and that didn’t make it any less fun.

After arriving with my friend Caitlyn (who became official bag carrier and photographer), we gathered some free goodies (dog treats, a t-shirt, a portable water bowl, and a doggy bandana to name a few) and I stretched out for the run! When the horn sounded, I came to find that my stretching was not as needed as I thought, since Slider was not performing as well as he did in his first 5K (which was 33 minutes). We had to take a number of breaks, and I even carried him and ran/walked a number of times. It is important when running a race with your dog to put your dog's needs and interests first, and to ensure that the dog is not being pushed too far.

The course for the Defend Your Friend 5K was the same exact course we had for the Run With The Pack 5K, which looped around the park and took place mainly on the Olentangy Greenway Trail.

Perusing the interwebs, I stumbled across a fellow blogger’s recap of the event, who coincidentally described her encounter with me and Slider on her post (Gym Class Dropout). It is hilarious that this stranger decided to include me in her blog, and I am still smiling about it! An excerpt from her post is below:

“The other best part was playing leap frog with a chihuahua.  I'm not kidding.  This dog must have been practicing the Galloway run/walk method.  His owner was smart enough to realize it was hot and that the little dog wasn't going to be running the entire 3.1 miles.  I mean his legs were 3 inches long!  So he'd run a little, pass me and then walk a little and I'd pass them.  Then then passed me again....except this time the owner was running but carrying the little dog.  It was pretty cute. I realize that a 41:42 5K isn't earth shattering.  It's still slow but it's still a PR for me.  I also realize that when you are a back of the packer, you have to have a sense of humor.  Getting passed by a chihuahua with 3 inch legs is one of those times when you have to have a sense of humor.”

It is evident by this blogger’s post that Slider and I drew a great deal of attention with our race! He is definitely a “sprinter” as he would walk for a while then speed up for a while, only to slow right back down to a walk. I am proud of the little guy, as I know that for him, this must have been more like a marathon than a 5K. I was not the only one whose dog needed a break, however. Some owners of smaller dogs carried their pups while some others had to take short rests in the grassy areas off to the side of the trail. It was exceptionally hot out, so much so that even the water stations wouldn’t do the trick completely!

Slider and I ran along with another couple and their two dogs at the very end of the race, and trotted across the finish line in approximately 45 minutes or so (I do not know the official time, but it was longer than our first 5K). We were given homemade doggy ice cream and water and relaxed with Caitlyn before heading home.

If you have a dog, and/or if you simply care about dogs, I highly encourage you to participate in the Defend Your Friend 5K in years to come! It is quite an experience!

Run With The Pack Recap

Photo by Steve Matheny

They say a dog often takes after its owner. And, in my case, that seems to be true! My newly rescued pet chihuahua Slider has been an absolute joy over the past month that I have owned him. Just like me, he seems to be quite the adventurer and athlete! Not many would expect that out of a nine pound fully grown dog, but I have certainly lucked out by landing myself an OHventurous canine companion!

This was evidenced by our recent participation in the "Run With The Pack 5K" to benefit Pets Without Parents. The race is designed so that you can run with your dog, with the entry fee going toward a great cause of helping shelter pets find homes. It took place this past weekend, Saturday, June 23 bright and early at 8:30 AM at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park.

Slider and I arrived at 7:30 AM with my mom and aunt who were visiting Columbus for the weekend. We had a late night, so an early morning race was going to prove challenging. I chugged a 5 Hour Energy Drink, ate some granola bars and stretched out in preps for the event. This was my first official race since running the Capital City Half Marathon in May, and I was still recovering from illiotibial (IT) band syndrome from that race. Slider and I had run just a couple of times in the days leading up to the race, but I had seen him run freely in the dog park and knew he'd be a fast one!

Photos by OHventures

Dozens of booths lined the paths near the starting line, including a Doggy Kissing Booth, raffle drawings, giveaways, sponsors, and more! Some of my favorite booths included the Pet Butler (who cleans your yard when **it happens!), the Animal Hospital of Polaris (which seems to have a great deal of amenities), and the various booths offering treats and other services.

Literally hundreds of dogs and their owners were at the park on that beautiful Saturday morning. Some people ran without a dog as well, or there were multiple people running with one dog. Every breed imaginable was present, from bulldogs to bichons, collies to cocker spaniels, and mutts galore! Slider was definitely in the smaller size bracket, but that did not stop him from performing above and beyond any expectations!

The horn blew when I was in the middle of filling out raffle tickets, so I had a bit of a delayed start. But once we started running, it was Slider speeding ahead, zipping through the crowd and causing quite a spectacle! Many people commented to us as we ran by, in aw at how quickly my dog's four little legs were moving. I had a hard time keeping up with the little guy! However, immediately when we hit the 1 Mile Marker, right by the Scioto River, Slider had to take a rest to go potty and drink some water.

We picked up the pace again for the second mile, as we ran under a path shaded nicely by trees. Still, I was pouring down sweat, and it seemed to be time to downshift to a power walk for a bit. At one point, I picked Slider up to give his paws a break as we jogged for a few tenths of a mile. After stopping for some more water, we kicked it into gear and ran the third and final mile. More comments came from fellow runners who were impressed and amused by Slider's abilities and demeanor.

I too gave compliments and made comments to other runners on how well their dogs were doing, and how beautiful their pets were! There was a gorgeous husky running near us most of the time, and a number of retrievers I was fond of! But the chit chat was kept to a minimum, as Slider and I had a lot to prove! We finished strong with a time of approximately 33 minutes! I was very proud of my dog (and I am sure he was proud of me). We had some water, and also had him cool off in a small doggy pool. After replenishing with a bagel and apple, we mingled (including with my friend and OHventurer Jason Warner) and made our way back home to rest!

I have to say that this was one of the most fun things I have done in a long, long time! If you have a dog, and/or if you simply care about dogs, I highly encourage you to participate! This race brings a smile to my face seeing all of the happy-go-lucky dogs running about, and knowing that it goes to such a good cause. There are other dog runs around the state that you can keep an eye out for! It is quite an experience!