Run, Tucker, Run!

This past weekend Tucker and Boyfriend participated in their first race together, the "K9 Candy Cane 5k Run."  Tucker has never shown much of an interest in running (he typically prefers to walk), so we weren't sure what to expect from him.  Boyfriend, however, is an avid, near-daily runner.  So together they are not naturally the best pairing for jogging partners.  However, Boyfriend wanted to give the race a try.  I thought it sounded like fun (to watch from the sidelines, of course) so I was all for it!

We arrived on a pleasently sunny yet cool Sunday morning at the location of the race to find a plethora of doggies large and small, many of whom were decked out in Christmas gear and accessories (often to coordinate with their similarly attired owners).  Tucker seemed quite excited and interested in all that was going on around him.  Finally the runners and walkers were called to congregate at the starting line.  Boyfriend, being the ambitious runner he is, found a spot with Tucker about 20 feet from the line.  The other appoximately 75 dogs were intermixed throughout the crowd, as well as those without a canine companion.  The countdown commenced, the race began and off my boys ran!

The first part of the race was a circle that looped around and back past the starting line, so I got to see Tucker run the first little part...and boy was he running!  Then came the down time in which I had to await their return to the finish line.  I went inside the building for a bit and then overheard someone say that the first runner was fast approaching the finish line.  I decided I should meander back outside to watch and wait for my guys.  The whole time I was just hoping that Tucker wouldn't need to stop and take breaks, or want Boyfriend to pick him up and carry him.  I went outside and watched the first few people finish the race, and in incredible time might I add.  A few minutes later the crowd noticed the first person with a dog headed our way.  It was a man in spandex with a medium/large sized brown dog.  Then I noticed another man and dog combo just behind this first duo.  As I squinted at them I realized it was Tucker and Boyfriend!!  I was utterly speechless!  Not only did Tucker clearly run the whole time, he was about to be the 2nd dog to cross the finish line.  Then, however, I noticed my boys pick up their pace into a full on sprint.  They passed the other two just a foot before the finish line!  They won!!  Tucker beat ALL the other dogs!

I was so surprised, happy, bewildered and joyous I began laughing so hard I was practically crying.  Not to mention I was so embaressed that this poor other guy and his dog were probably convinced they were the canine winners, until Boyfriend passed him at the last second.  Boyfriend reassured me that this was a race, after all, and trying to beat someone was the norm (ha, of course).

Boyfriend reported that Tucker did in fact sprint the entire race and didn't stop once!  This is definitely unprecidented for the little guy.  We're convinced that Tucker knew it was a race and therefore determined to run.  It was simply the cutest thing ever...and this will definitely not be Tucker's last race J

Checking out the competition

Waiting for the race to begin

Look at Tucker sprint!