ZENFULdog Style
It was a crisp and windy Saturday morning on November 25th when I met up with members of ZENFULdog Canix Pack Runners to complete the 2022 Trails and Tails Classic 5km race. Because of an unpredictable weather forecast, the ZENFULdog team decided to walk and run the race virtually at the South McIntosh Lane Recreational Trails instead of traveling to the event’s Mansfield Outdoor Centre location. While completing the event in person is always a blast, ZENFULdog’s team definitely made the best of the virtual experience at McIntosh Lane Trail.
Kendra arrived at the trail with Ren, Pia, Autumn, Kether and myself in tow. She also had ZENFULdog merch on hand to give to those who had ordered hoodies and hats—the added layers helped some to combat the assaulting wind greeting us upon arrival. Attached by canicross belt, line and harness and equipped with tracking apps on their phones, teams took off one by one shortly after 10 am following Kendra’s safety instructions.
The first team to take off was Kevin—with Lily and Ivy at the helm. Autumn and Pia hit the start line next, aiming to make good time on Kevin to represent Pia’s mom’s competitive spirit (Laura). Kathy was all smiles as she took off next with Jett followed by Elena and Piper. Eva and Ginny were next followed by Kendra with Ren and Erin with Bentley. Kether and I walked alongside Kendra’s team to show our support and capture the moment for the blog!
The McIntosh Lane Trail was the perfect setting for the Trails and Tails Classic virtual 5k. The trail was refreshingly non-technical and pleasantly shielded us from the aggressive wind. There was some slippery terrain in the middle of the trail but the sides were wide enough to walk and run on with plenty of space to pull over. There was enough room to take a moment to cheer on the teams ahead of us as they were running back toward the finish line where we had started. All of the teams did an amazing job finishing the Trails and Tails Classic event. Every person, and dog alike, crossed the finish line with big smiles.
As we—the last team—passed the finish line, the ZENFULdog team was waiting outside in the cold to applaud our accomplishment. We all celebrated by marking our success with a big group photo then we enjoyed the delicious hot soup that Erin had made for the occasion. Erin had even prepared garnishes for both vegans and non-vegans alike and Eva’s homemade bread paired perfectly with the soup for comfort food heaven.
The ZENFULdog Canix Pack Runners group is like no other—their high energy and support for each other were contagious. Their community spirit and friendship are palpable in every laugh and smile they exchange. I overheard strangers asking some of the members who we were and it was clear they were eager to join in on the fun too!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Trails and Tails Classic this year. Congratulations on your successful 5km walks and runs! You should feel very proud of yourselves, and of course, of your dog’s amazing behaviour on and off the trail. A special shout-out to Kevin who had the second-best time with Ivy and Lilly and Autumn who had the fastest time with Pia—Laura must be proud!
Kendra adds, “Trails and Tails Classic was a much-anticipated event this year and did not disappoint. Though we did not get the chance to be at the event in person, we were kept accountable for our training by the amazing goal the event provided. We love our community and it’s exciting to see it grow. We promote the sport at a grassroots level and we were very happy to be a part of a new event that spreads the joy and love we all have for this incredible sport.
The benefits for the dog-and-people teams are huge for the mental and physical health of both. We are very thankful to Shawn Sobon who organised and hosted this event with passion, professionalism and dedication. He is clearly someone who knows the thrill of racing down the trails with our amazing canine partners in harness. We are looking forward to attending next year in person and encourage everyone to give it a try! The community is very supportive and it’s an excellent way to bond with your best partner—your dog.”
Thank you all for making me feel welcome, I can’t wait for the next event. Don’t forget to followZENFULdog Training on Facebook where you can stay connected to your like-minded dog-loving community every day.
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