2 very different walks

3 friends on Dartmoor granite

It's been an eventful few days, some of which events were good or amusing and some of which were just awful.  In fact, today I had what was, hands down, the worst experience I have ever had on a dog walk.  And this is coming from someone who lost her 6-month-old Neka for an hour on an unfamiliar heath once.  And someone who has walked 3 or sometimes 4 reactive Lapphunds at once.  And an Akita. 

In general, I'm pretty careful about where I walk and when and how.  I like a quiet life, and so I aim for walks where I can see who is coming and take appropriate action accordingly.  These days I have Keskiyo who is old and not interested in looking for trouble.  In his younger days he was a handful at times, but being neutered, intensive training and, finally, age have all contributed to his now happy-go-lucky outlook.  In fact, these days if a scary dog heads his way, he throws himself to the ground rather than try to defend himself.  

Then there is Maija who will be 9 years old at the end of this month.  She is the quintessential easy dog - obedient, friendly to everyone she meets, excellent manners with other dogs.  Everything you could ask for.  In fact, I would say that Maija is dog perfection.  She is sweet and gentle and has never had cross words with anyone.  Except, perhaps, on those occasions when some young whippersnapper has the temerity to consider helping itself to her bone. 

Finally, we have Tuuli who has her friends and loves the people and dogs that she knows, but who barks at strangers.  And sometimes lunges.  And there is also occasional leaping.  However, if anyone ever went for her, she would turn tail and run away.   But because she has such bad manners, she is frequently on lead - always if I am somewhere we are likely to run into others.

This morning before 7am I was in the local dog walking fields next to a river in Kingsteignton near Teigngrace.  It's a terrific place for walking dogs, and for that reason it is almost always very busy.  And for that reason I rarely go there - my idea of a good walk is seeing no other people.   But we were there early, and it was pretty quiet.  I walked on past the bridge across the river for the return leg of the journey that most people take and carried on to the next bridge which leads to a track.  Unfamiliar with the terrain, I had Keskiyo and Tuuli on lead and, as usual, Maija was running on ahead.  As the track sloped downhill towards a gate back into the meadows along the river, Maija popped into the woods at the side and 3 Staffies appeared at the gate.

When I heard two people calling the dogs back in panicked voices, I started to get concerned.  Clearly, the owners were worried about these dogs heading out the gate.  I wasn't actually unduly concerned yet; I was far enough back up the hill for my dogs not to attract any unwanted attention from most dogs who you might expect to encounter off lead, and Maija is quite safe meeting all dogs.  But I called Maija back to me, intending to turn around and head back up the track away from the potentially problematic Staffies.  And so my sweet little Maija popped out of the trees straight into the three Staffies who were sniffing around the path.  And they attacked her.

She was screaming, trying to get away from them.  When she leaped into the air to try and escape, they jumped up and dragged her back down!  They pinned her on her back and all 3 were just going at her.

What did I do?  Well, nothing useful.  I was terrified of getting too close with Keskiyo and Tuuli in case I ended up with a 6-dog fight with leads involved.  For the same reason I didn't dare let go of the leads and wade in to drag the Staffies off.  So I stood there and screamed.  Really unhelpful, I know.  But when you're terrified and in shock, it's hard to gather the wits to know what to do.

In hindsight, I think if I had dropped Keskiyo's and Tuuli's leads, they would not have moved because I did sort of register that in those agonisingly slow seconds that Maija was being attacked, they didn't move a muscle or even bark.  Very uncharacteristic.

The owners came running after what felt like minutes but, I guess, was actually only seconds.  I just screamed at them to get their dogs off.   I honestly thought those dogs were going to kill Maija, and they surely would have if not for the fact that they were muzzled.  Thankfully.

The owners were very sorry and apologetic.  But, honestly, those dogs should not be off lead at any time they cannot absolutely guarantee being able to control the situation.  From a dog-owning point of view, why on earth would you have THREE dogs so antisocial that they need to be muzzled and why would you then walk them as a pack when they are clearly so dangerous?  The Staffie owners waited until I ascertained that Maija wasn't badly hurt and I just said they should keep their dogs on lead.  We then turned around and retraced our steps back to the car, avoiding everyone we met on the way.

Back home, I rinsed all the mud off Maija, gave her a dose of arnica and checked her over for injuries.  I'm sure she must be bruised and sore, but at least they weren't able to bite her.

I surely won't be taking that route again, regardless of how early in the morning it is.  I'm sure the Staffies' owners thought it was early enough that they wouldn't run into anyone.  But it was shaping up to be a warm, sunny day, and there were plenty of dog walkers there, even at 7.  So that's it for those fields and us.

This is actually a bit of a shame for Keskiyo who absolutely loved it there in those nice flat fields.  A year ago he could hardly walk and now, newly medicated, he scampers around like a puppy.  Well, not *quite* like a puppy, perhaps, but there is definitely scampering.

On Saturday we had a much better walk.  Around the crack of dawn, Heather and I met up with Loki and the girls for a Dartmoor trek.   By 7am we were headed for Hound Tor via Haytor (and I was freezing because I dressed for the weather that came an hour later).  It was a great walk with superb sunny weather and a cooling breeze to keep the dogs comfortable.  There was some steep climbing and some steep downward skidding, some pushing our way through 7-foot gorse (ruck sacks excellent armor in these situations) and a bit of slipping, one of which resulted in Heather tumbling over some rocks.  Luckily she was unhurt but for some grazes, and we had a terrific morning of blue skies, dramatic far-reaching views and picturesque piles of rocks.

First stop was Haytor and the old disused quarry next door - the best spot around for dogs to run and play.  Maija fell into the water and, at the age of 8 years 11 months had her very first swim.  She headed for a little stand of trees in the middle of the pond for some reason and I feared she was chasing a duck or something.  However, it seems she was just trying to find a spot to climb out.  Luckily she turned and swam back to me through the lily pads because if she had found some solid ground in that little tree island, I'm not sure how I would have got her back.

3 friends after a swim in the quarry

Great views

Stunning piles of rocks

The light was quite beautiful, but difficult to photograph in

One of those gorgeous Dartmoor stone bridges

Sweet curious calves

Headed .... there

Intriguing little doorway

Inside the doorway

Taking the ancient tramway all the way back

Heading home

gear

Over the years I have accumulated quite a bit of gear for the puppies.  With my first litter I had little more than whelping box, small indoor pen and small outdoor pen plus a few toys.  When the second litter came along and there was NINE of them - almost double the number of puppies in a normal litter - I bought a second indoor pen and a second outdoor one to double the size. 

There are lots of disposable items that are new with each litter.  Each one sees a new whelping box, new puppy toys, new syringes for various purposes such as administering wormer.  Then there are the bigger items of equipment that last from one litter to the next like new liners & vet beds for the whelping box.  For Emmi's litter I have invested in a couple of new things.  I'm still using the two big pens and now I have a reusable whelping box too. 

I have always been concerned about leaving 4- or 5-week-old puppies unattended in the outdoor pen.  We have a lot birds of prey around here, and one of them could very easily carry off a small Lapphund puppy.  This year I was even more worried as it was only a week or two before the puppies moved downstairs that the news was full of the poor little Yorkshire terrier that was attacked and killed by gulls in Cornwall.  I'm hoping the Chudleigh gulls are not as aggressive as Cornish ones, but I don't feel the need to take any chances.  So for these puppies I also invested in a gazebo.  Not only does it shield them from passing gulls and hawks, but it also provides them with some handy shade.  Particularly useful for these sun-averse puppies.  And pretty good shade for the humans too on those rare occasions that we get enough sun to need to escape. 

Keskiyo modelling the gazebo

Under the shelter of the gazebo, this is what was going on in the outdoor pen at 9pm last night.

happy birthday ...

... to the Monta puppies, aka the Devon Nine, who are 6 years old today!

I almost posted this a whole month early.  It wasn't that I forgot when their birthday is, it's just that I misplaced my grip on which month we were in.  Ahem.

First, here are their parents:

L: Neka age 10 yrs   -    R: Keskiyo age 8 yrs

This was Neka's second litter of puppies, an amazing bunch of NINE who remain, to this day, the largest litter ever born in the UK.  Neka did an absolutely stellar job of raising them, and all these years later I can still remember how exhausted I was with all the feeding, house training and socialising by the time they were 7 weeks old.  Oh, and did I mention that it rained just about every day those puppies lived here?  There was rather too much of the lugging them back and forth from the garden pen.

If you would like to check out what life was like with 9 puppies, go back to the first days of this blog which you can access via the archives list to the right.

In the meantime, here are the 6-year-olds and their 6-week-old selves - well most of them, anyway. 

Infindigo Monta Jaana
(Sybil)

Snoozing in the sun - Good morning bottom! - at 6 weeks

Infindigo Monta Tarmo
(Tarmo)

Chilling on the cool tiles - Cute head tilt - at 6 weeks

Infindigo Monta Maija
(Maija)

Funny upside down dog - good sitting girl - at 6 weeks

Infindigo Monta Rauhan
(Rauhan)

Posing at a show (photo (c) Mark Treasure)  -  pretty face  -  at 6 weeks

Infindigo Monta Sulo
(Kaija)

Looking a lot like dad  -  looking a lot like mum  -  at 6 weeks

Infindigo Monta Viivi
(Viivi)

Pretty posing girl - looking like her dad - at 6 weeks

Infindigo Monta Tarkka
(Tarkka)

Handsome Tarkka (photos (c) Joanne Ross)  -  at 6 weeks

Infindigo Monta Aurinko
(Inko)

Showing off her fluffy tail - showing off her fluffy feet! - at 6 weeks

the week instagramly

The weekly visit to Instagram where the puppies have been busy inside and out - and so have the adults.

Obligatory howling puppy  -  pair of cuties in the pen
A family walk  -  auntie Taika & the not-so-grumpy Uncle
Kaito got his broccoli  -  Fiia got her hoof
Kai being a good puppy - twice!  But once with a wink to show he's only kidding

water water everywhere

A few days ago I posted a photo of the entire litter all crammed into one corner of the pen, all trying to sleep next to the water bowl.  In each litter there is always (at least) one puppy who insists on sleeping with his head dipping into the water bowl.  In Taito's litter it was Karhu, in Maija's litter it was Jaska, in the subsequent litters it was Minna, Kiittaa and, in the case of the Persikka puppies, ALL of them.  Water babies, every one. 

In this litter it is, again, every one of them, although some are perhaps slightly more enamoured than others.  I blame Tuuli who loves water like a spaniel.  The Pippuri puppies are all obsessed with the water bowl which means the pen (and surrounding floor) is constantly soaked.  They sleep around the bowl, they jostle each other trying to get the best position next to the bowl, they stand with front feet in the bowl (Mini, Fiia, Sox), they dig in the water bowl (Tito, Tuulen).  What a mess!  I am trying to discourage them from this because the last thing their new families will want is water everywhere all the time, but I think it is a habit that will only recede with time and maturity.  Hopefully.  Just ask Keskiyo, who still likes the occasional dig in the water bowl. 

And it could be worse.  Neka's father Pascha used to pick up his (full) water bowl, carry it carefully into the living room and then drop it.  These puppies didn't stand a chance, really, did they.

And so to the photographic evidence.

3 puppies, 1 bowl

4 puppies, 1 bowl

Somehow Sox manages to tip it over!

Very pleased with himself & his wet head

New idea: bowl-inside-a-bowl.  Very exciting, apparently.

As you can imagine, I prefer the puppies to spend plenty of time in the garden where, mysteriously, they ignore the water bowl!  Some action shots from the outdoor pen.

They love playing in and around boxes

Try to get a group shot but there's always one in the box

personality +

A couple of days ago I was explaining to someone new to Lappies how each puppy in the litter plays a role.  There is the dominant one, the playful one, the quiet one, the noisy one, etc.  These characteristics can be swapped from puppy to puppy as they grow and develop, although some things tend to remain the same.  The moniker of "noisy little sod" usually gets passed from one puppy to the next over the weeks and I do my bit to discourage that behaviour in each one in turn.  The most dominant puppy tends to show him or herself pretty much right away and remains the dominant puppy throughout their time with me.

I do my very best to match each puppy with its most suitable family based on their individual personalities.  But, of course, once they leave the familiarity of their mum and siblings it's all change.  For example, the quiet one can find new confidence, the dominant one no longer has anything to prove, the playful one ... well, they are all playful and they stay that way.  

Genetics definitely play a role in a puppy's character - time and again I have seen the influence of Neka in her kids and even her grandkids.  I have also clearly seen the influence of the sires of the puppies, most of whom I don't even know very well.  But elements of their natures are there in their puppies clear as glass.

Having said that, the great majority of a dog's behaviour is the result of how he is raised.  For example, it is in our Maija's nature to be noisy.  She truly loves the sound of her own voice and takes her role of watch dog very seriously.  However, she knows very clearly that excessive barking is ICA (illegal canine activity) in our house, so at those times that she really can't resist, in spite of being told to cut it out, we get closed-mouth huffs.  They are permitted.  Neka, on the other hand, who also loves the sound of her own voice, barks with excitement, with joy and when playing.  She gets so much pleasure out of it that she simply doesn't care if we scold her.  So with her, games always end when she starts to get noisy.   Mind you, she is also good at closed-mouth barking.  Keskiyo, on the other hand, is expert at the silent bark.  He knows he's not allowed to bark to go out, so he sits by the door going through the silent motions.  It's quite funny. 

Part of the onslaught of information that I subject new owners to includes how to deal with an undesirable Finnish Lapphund general characteristic as well as individual puppy characteristics that they will definitely want to be discouraging.  How to discourage barking for attention, how to train recall, how to deal with timidness or hand-shyness, how to avoid getting your Lappy attacked by other dogs.  Yes, that happens a lot.  Why?  Well, there are lots of good, logical reasons why this might happen, not least of which is the Lappy's insistence on getting into the face of every dog he meets, whether the other dog wants to say hello and play or not.  A young Lappy simply cannot believe that another dog does not want to say hello (or be chased...) and he will not take no for an answer.  He will leap around as if to say "come on, let's play, you'll like me when you get to know me, really you will, oh go on, give me a chance..." etc.  Other dogs are frequently not amused.  Incidentally, neither are their owners.  It's a mortifying situation that I dare say most Lappy owners have had to cope with at least once, but more likely a dozen times.  Or more.

But the Pippuri puppies?  Well, I don't want to jinx anything here (famous last words and all that), but the Pippuri puppies are among the quietest, easiest, most chilled and laid back gang who have ever borne the name Infindigo.  I'm sure they will also be guilty of pestering other dogs to play, but they are generally very relaxed puppies.  So much like their dad in that way.  Isn't it great when a plan comes to fruition in much the way you hoped it would?

There is little of the ear-splitting yapping of the over-tired puppy, not much of the heart-stopping panicked screeching of the puppy who gets his jaws stuck in the bars of the pen (yes, that's a truly terrible event), no barking just for amusement, and not even a lot of barking during play.  Although, yes, there is some of that and much growling during play.   The most noise they make is squawking in indignation when a sibling pins someone down or chews too enthusiastically on a paw or yanks a tail just a little too hard. 

The absolute most noise they make is howling.  Each week on Instagram there have been howling puppy photos.  They all do it, and they all do it such a great deal more than any puppy I've ever had here.  I think they get it from their mum who often has a little howl when she yawns.  Anyway, I love it, it completely cracks me up.  They do the full ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-ooooooo, nose in the air like a wolf.  And sometimes they get so into it that they topple over backwards.  Too, too funny.

The most persistent and regular howler is Mini (of course) and the funniest is Tito, partly because he has naturally a rather quieter Lappy voice (his new owners will be pleased to hear).  One of the sounds on the noise CD that I play for the puppies is a variety of sirens.  Awake or asleep, Tito has been simply unable to resist howling along to the siren.  I just wish I had captured it on video because suddenly he is growing accustomed to the noise (which is the whole point) and has stopped howling along. 

Here's a video of the gang playing after breakfast with the noise CD raining away in the background.  Tito is snoozing in the upper lefthand corner while the other 4 are engaged in various wrestling matches.  A personal highlight is when Sox, Fiia and Tuulen are all playing together when Mini comes and pounces right on top of the pile.

Anyway, when the siren starts you can see that Tito wakes up and looks towards the noise, but alas no howling.  Instead he just settles down again.  Oh well.  I shall have to content myself with knowing that they are growing used to the scary noises as I wanted them to.

walkies

In the days leading up to Tuuli's due date we have been taking the dogs on all their favorite walks.  Actually, they are our favorite walks too.  Tuuli will have a boring puppy-centric time once they arrive, so out we have been going for lots of good fun. 

There was some beach fun and, as you can see, even just days away from popping, Tuuli might have slowed down a little, but she is still running, jumping and even horning in on other dogs' games (not pictured as she always runs miles for this embarrassing stunt). 

And there have also been several woods walks in various places which, for Tuuli, always includes a paddle or two.  It will be interesting to see whether these puppies resemble their dad who prefers to keep his paws dry and pristine or their mum who is a complete water baby. 

And perhaps when the puppies arrive there will be space on the sofa for a human or two.  You can see Keskiyo in the doorway wondering where he's going to fit.

And, finally, we turfed Gink the cat out of the whelping box that he was convinced we installed for his benefit.  Tuuli is wondering what this giant cat bed has to do with her.

hot dogs

You might have thought I was exaggerating when I said in my last post that a Lapphund would prefer it to be minus 30°C rather than plus 30°C, but if it was an exaggeration at all, it was a very slight one.  They are purportedly one of only a small handful of breeds who are allowed by law to remain outdoors during the night in a ferocious Finnish winter.  And when you get the chance to see them in cold weather, you can appreciate why.

It's a real treat for Lappy owners to see their dog's reaction the first time they see snow.  It really is like they have a genetic predisposition for it and they go quite bonkers with excitement.  For many of them, the worse the weather, the better they like it.  That includes not only snow, but also rain and wind and bitterly cold temperatures.  

So what's a Lappy to do when the temperature is somewhere in the region of 25-30°C, as it was here in southwest England for the past few weeks?

Our dogs like to lie about in the shade on the patio with the cool stones on their bellies - and chins.

Smiley Neka the second after lifting her chin from the ledge -

I just wasn't quick enough with the camera

Keskiyo, Maija & Tuuli - still panting even when in the shade

Even Gink enjoys the cool patio.  Do you suppose he thinks the skeleton washing line will cast some shade for him?  Or perhaps he just knows that this is a safe place to lie because even dogs who are careering madly around the garden tend not to run into poles - or trample the pussycats lying under the poles.

So what about exercise in this weather?  How cool does it need to be to walk a Lapphund?  How hot is too hot?  I always tell people that 20°C is the maximum temperature to walk your Lapphund in.  Any warmer than that is too warm for them, really, and that's especially true if that temperature comes with sunshine and no wind.  

So this kind of summertime in England means very early and very late walks for happy Lappies.  These days when it's 20 degrees by 9 am, I am out with the dogs by 7 o'clock at the very latest.  And some days - and for some people with different schedules to mine, that latest time will be 6 am.  Or even 5.  After that, the order of the day is lounging around on the patio stones until the sun goes behind the trees sometime after 8 pm.  

As for warm weather and the thick Lapphund coat, I have often had questions about clipping the coat in an effort to help them keep cool.  In a word: DON'T.  Here is an article that goes into some detail about the reasons not to clip or shave a dog with a double coat like a Lapphund.  But the short version is this:  The coat acts as a perfect insulator.  That means that it keeps them warm in cold weather but also cool in hot weather.  

Not so cool that you should take them out for a run in 25 degree heat, though, obviously.

Then there is the assertion "but my dog wants to go for a walk even when it's warm".  My answer to that is this:  You would not allow your 4-year-old child to decide what was in his best interests, so don't let your dog make those decisions either.  

In any event, it's not a problem that is likely to cause us in the UK any long-term dilemmas.  I have no doubt that by the time I publish this post, the weather will have reverted to the usual cold wind and rain that we have come to expect of our summers and the Lappies will all be comfy and as happy as clams (and probably as damp as clams too).

naturally

Nature is a funny thing.  Somehow it intervenes from time to time and takes necessary action that we, as puny humans, may fight and rail against in the hope of gaining our own selfish desires.  But nature will have its own way, and I find it's usually right and therefore pointless to struggle against it.

Take, for example, Keksi's last litter.  One puppy was born much later than the others and was unable to suck.  Keksi just didn't want him.  I kept him warm and kept trying to get him to feed, but Keksi would just push him away with her nose.  In the end I gave up trying and accepted what nature & Keksi somehow knew.  I cuddled him up next to his brothers and sisters so that at least he had some comfort but I didn't try to save him.  He only lived for a couple of hours and Keksi obviously knew that he was not a viable puppy.  Perhaps if I had tried harder he would have survived, but who knew what problems he might have had as an adult.  Keksi knew and nature knew so I left it to their better judgement.

And now I think nature is playing similar tricks with Tuuli and her elusive season.  (In case you are wondering, no, she STILL has not come into season.  Sigh.)  This is my logic:  if Tuuli's season had started on time, or even a week or so late, then the puppies would have been born approximately now or a week ago.  And in case you don't live in the UK, I will point out that we are smack in the middle of an official heatwave.  30°C in the daytime and not much cooler than that in the bedrooms at night.  It's tough stuff for we unaccustomed humans, and it's even tougher for Lapphunds who, let's face it, would prefer it to be minus 30°C.  

I find that Lappies struggle with being too warm when they have puppies anyway, regardless of the weather.  Neither Keksi nor her mother Neka enjoyed lying down to nurse their puppies because they just got too hot.  And the blog archives are full of photos of puppies spread out as far apart from each other as they can get in an effort to keep cool.  So if Tuuli had had her season on time, and her puppies on time, then it would not have been much fun at all for her or for the puppies.  Or me, frankly.  Nature strikes again.  

But I would just like to point out to nature and Tuuli that if her season were to start, say, tomorrow, then the puppies would be born in late September and I'm fairly certain that the weather would be just about perfect for puppies.

                               *                   *                   *                   *

On a completely different note, what do you think about kennel Facebook pages?  Many kennels have their own pages where breeders and owners alike can post photos of their dogs and keep up-to-date with what's going on.  I haven't yet done this.  Is it something you would like to see?  Particularly for the owners of Infindigo puppies - would you like me to set up a page?

In the meantime, there are other ways you can follow what's going on (or what's not going on, in the case of Tuuli's season) apart from on the blog.  There is the website and it's news page, of course there is also Twitter, and you can also follow on Instagram where you will see not only pics of the dogs, but also other frilling fings like food, flowers and fashion.  You can find me here: @infindigo_jennifer

Here are a few recent shots from Instagram.

Neka squished into the corner for a snooze

Tuuli looking gorgeous

Tuuli looking like an insane cartoon dog

Tuuli (right) visiting Emmi & Miika

Keskiyo, Maija & Tuuli all want the funny-shaped stick

Funny Keskiyo with no ears

race for life

On Sunday Neka and I ran the 5 km Race for Life for the Cancer Research UK charity.  You might think that we had spent weeks and weeks training for this event.  I certainly had intended to.  But with one thing and another (one thing being my back and another thing being my knee) we hadn't actually managed even one run in the 3 weeks leading up to the race.  And we certainly hadn't done more than 4.5 km for a very long time before that.  Well, not running, anyway.  Not even jogging.

 Outfit ready, including matching pink lead

We turned up on the day of the race at The Hoe, Plymouth, armed with optimism, hope for good weather and a picnic for afterwards.

I had originally intended to do the race at the Exeter venue, Westpoint, because it is much closer to home but they didn't welcome dogs.  Now, am I the crazy one?  In 2 months' time, Westpoint will host the largest dog show in the southwest - Paignton Championship Show.  Yet, dogs were not allowed at the Race for Life.  And I simply wasn't interested in running without my usual running buddy, Neka.

 Warmed up and ready for the off

Neka isn't the only dog I've gone running with.  Keskiyo has also had a turn from time to time.  He's not quite as enthusiastic as Neka (i.e. he's lazier) so I expend a bit too much energy coaxing him along sometimes.  In addition, he also has an irrepressible need to pick up any item of potential interest he passes in the gutter - empty sandwich bags, discarded chips, plastic bottle tops.   It's an infuriating endearing habit, but potentially life-threatening for me - or at least neck-threatening - as he veers off to one side, taking absolutely no notice whatsoever if he happens to trip me up in the process.

So, mainly, I go running with Neka.  Who only threatens my neck in the event of a cat daring to come within her field of vision.  Or a discarded chip.  Or another dog she simply must say hello to. 

The weather didn't have the most auspicious of starts, which was a worry partly because I'm unashamedly (or perhaps there is a tiny bit of shame there) a fair-weather runner.  But of even greater concern on this occasion was that we had planned to meet up with friends after the race for a picnic and I certainly didn't want the weather to interfere with my opportunity to pig out  re-fuel after the race.  

Rain, rain, go away!

 In the end, we got lucky with the weather and there was just a little moisture during the race itself and actual sunshine after the event.  So Neka and I didn't get soaked during the run and our friends didn't bail and actually stuck around to cheer us on.

 The atmosphere at The Hoe was quite incredible.  When my dad asked me on the phone the night before how many runners there would be, I said I thought maybe a couple of hundred.  Well, yep, a couple of hundred alright - plus the other 4000.  And all their supporters.

 The Plymouth "Eye" - only a little smaller than it's cousin in London

 Fabulous atmosphere and all the runners in pink.

 Neka (right) all smiles before the race with one of her gorgeous son's, Tarkka

Luckily Jay was there too for photographic and cheering services.  

And dog wrangling.

Ready! With Neka (R) and Tuuli (L) who came for the day out

and to bark at everyone and everything.

 A sea of pink!

And then, we were off!  The 4000+ participants were invited to separate into "runners", who got to go first, "joggers", who followed on after them, and finally "walkers".  I joined the "joggers" group but quickly regretted not sticking onto the back of the runners because there were already log jams and I spent most of the first 5 minutes or so walking and trying to shoulder my way past some other people even slower than I.  Which "shouldering" I did in the most polite manner, of course.

We're in there somewhere

Photo:  Jo Ross

 The organisation of the event was really very well done.  The route was picturesque along the seafront and through pretty cobbled streets.  There were enthusiastic "official" cheer-ers dotted along the route and even some wonderful entertainment.  I remember seeing a choir of women singing their hearts out and an outstanding troupe of drummers who were well placed so that we all got to pass them twice.  In addition to the officials, the whole route was lined with supporters shouting and clapping us all past.  The atmosphere was positive, enthusastic, energetic and actually really touching, especially when you read each runner's story pinned to their backs.  

I ran most of the way behind another girl with a husky until said husky paused to answer the call of nature.  Luckily I had enough poo bags with me for Neka and every other dog on the route.  Neka, lady that she is, refrained from disgracing me in that manner, however.  

As I neared the end of the race I was even more glad that the rain had stayed away because it meant that I saw no less than 3 separate groups of friends cheering me to the end.  Jo was there with Tarkka, Emma, Adrian and the girls were there with Rauhan & Sukka, and Kelly and Billy were there with the Collies Kye and Maddie. 

I even managed a little sprint to the finish line to make it exactly 43 minutes according to the race clock.  However, that doesn't mean much because I guess the clock started as the very first "runner" group left the starting line and I was quite a way back in the throng behind them.  My own gprs said I did it in 41 minutes, but again it also said I only did 4.5 km, so I'm not sure when exactly I set it going.  Suffice it to say we did the entire route, there was some walking involved, but we did our best. 

Of course there were photos of us nearing the end, but this is all you're going to get.

500 m to the finish line - we made it!

What, you thought I was going to publish the whole photo?  Surely you didn't really think that?  Allow me to paint a picture in words instead:  there was redness of face illustrating my honest exertion, there was gasping for breath as I had just made it up the final hill, there was sweating (see previous detail), and there was no makeup.  But there was also a big grin and a thumbs up.

After the race there were some canine cuddles and a picnic in the sun.

Neka (middle) with the adorable brothers Tarkka (L) & Rauhan (R)

He got me

Photo: Jo Ross

The fabulous lead cover made for me by Jo.  It reads:

Best of Luck at Race for Life Go Jen and Neka

Tuuli & Tarkka falling in love during the picnic

Two tired girls at the end of the day

 

The 3rd tired girl was probably already in bed by that time.

And thanks to the truly touching and incredible generosity of our friends and relatives, Neka and I raised £360 for charity.