Trail running with your four-legged best friend

Amanda Tichacek, of Skokie, Ill., and her sidekick, Roxie, a greyhound mix, on a trail on Signal Mountain. Tichacek took up running — then trail running — with Roxie eight years ago. "We have grown together as runners," she says. Amanda Tichacek, of Skokie, Ill., and her sidekick, Roxie, a greyhound mix, on a trail on Signal Mountain. Tichacek took up running — then trail running — with Roxie eight years ago. "We have grown together as runners," she says.

By Associated Press April 17, 2016 5 min read

Veterinarian Jeff Gerlesits runs with his dog, Dawson, an English setter, on a trail in Arvada, Colo. While working and sporting breeds make the best runners, Gerlesits doesn’t rule out any breed completely. “If we’re aware of a dog’s abilities and slowly work up from there, any dog has potential,” he says.

When Amanda Tichacek began running eight years ago, she found a friendly sidekick in Roxie, her 2-year-old greyhound mix. They started out slowly, but soon began running longer distances on the wooded trails near their home in Skokie, Illinois.

“We have grown together as runners,” says Tichacek, who lives on Signal Mountain and now logs 40 to 60 miles a week.

In her prime, Roxie ran near-marathon distances, averaging more than 600 miles a year. Even at age 10, she still can run 6 or more miles with her owner.

For many runners, dogs offer companionship and fun. But while dogs clearly love to run, not all are built for long-distance running with people. Don’t push your dog too hard, and stop if you see the dog lagging.

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