Hounds & Harriers - October 9th - Morristown, NJ

Time - 22:09
Pace - 7:23
Runners - 128
Place - 27th


This is the first time I ran this race without Blaze. As one of the sponsors this year I felt like I needed to run but just needed a 4 legged partner. Chris & Debbie Kelly have 3 dogs and he offered one up. Murphy who is a poodle/terrier mix was an eager runner. One week before the race I ran with Murphy, Chris and his partner Brody, a Weimaraner rescue dog, at the canal. Murphy was no problem and really enjoyed running and was quick. He really had fun running with his older & bigger "brother".

I rode to the race with Chris, Debbie and the 3 dogs with the three of them in the back of the jeep. Those doggies were excited and barking the whole way up to Morristown. They even tried to squeeze their way to the back seat where I was sitting.

Once we got to the park they calmed down and were happy to be around the other dogs. Chris told me that Murphy could handle me running a 6:40 pace so my plan was to go hard for the 3 miles with hopes to make it in the top ten. Barbara Rushman who organizes this race does a great job and attracts many fast runners and dogs so a top finish is hard to do. Blaze and I finished in the top ten about 6 years ago but that was before this race became really popular. Debbie was running with Nickie, a Carin who is low to the ground and very cute.

Chris and I get elite start status which is a good move by Barbara because you wouldn't want slow runners with dogs and leashes getting in the way of the faster runners. The start is always noisy with 140 dogs barking and howling. Somehow we heard Barbara say go and off we went. Chris planned on running with me and Murphy although he is a least 20 seconds per mile faster than me. We hit the first mile in 6:22 which is much faster than I wanted to run and I knew I could keep that pace up for 3 miles but was willing to try. My only issue was could Murphy handle the pace. He seemed fine for the first mile and liked running along side Brody and Chris. I told Chris to take off and try to finish in the top ten and I would be fine. He picked up the pace and Murphy and I kept passing runners and dogs.

Chris was a good 150 yards ahead of me at mile 1.5 when Murphy just stopped. He looked back and seemed lost. I think he was looking for Chris and Brody and for the last 1.5 miles I had to stop and start and try to coax him to the finish. We finished strong but lost too much time to place in the top 10.

This has to be one of the best races in NJ. The dogs love it and the runners have fun while Barbara puts so much time and effort into the race.

Chris ran a 19:33 and finished 9th while I ran a 22:09 and finished 27th. Debbie finished strong with Nickie.

On the way home the dogs were quiet and got some sleep until we got near the Kelly's home. It was great morning of running and always a lot of fun.