Comrades Weekend.... training goes on

As the whole world probably knows by now, 31 May 2015 was the day the Comrades marathon was run. The race started in Durban and ended in Pietermaritzburg. As we live close to the route, we had to leave Hillcrest before 5:30am to go training. I must be honest.... it was the promise of good coffee that got me up and ready to leave home before 5am. 

We enjoyed hot coffee while we waited until the sun came up at 7am. Training in the dark is boring.... at least it wasn't cold. 

The plan was to lay tracks for some of the dogs, including the Munchkin, and to do Search and Rescue training at another venue later in the morning. 

What's up Mom?

I laid a 400 pace track with a left curve, a right curve and a sharp left turn for the Munchkin. There was an article (toy) between the left curve and the right curve. I also put down food every 5-10 paces. The Munchkin battled with the first leg. She looked at me a couple of times as if to say "What's happening Mom? Why am I looking for food on a lead? I want to run and find my toy?" Once she found the first toy and played with it a bit, she settled down and tracked her way to the end of the track. She was so excited to find her favourite toy at the end of the track. Of course that meant a good game of tug and war all the way back to the car.

Settling down to track

Playtime after a successful track

Our victim, Layban, meandering up the hill to hide

Once we had tracked all the dogs that needed to track, we went on our merry way to the Search and Rescue venue. On arrival we let some of the dogs out to play. The Munchkin wasn't allowed to play and was very upset with us. She told us in no uncertain terms what she thought of the fact that she was stuck in a crate while the other dogs were running around and playing

Griffin racing up the hill

Griffin watching Layban hide

 Once the dogs had burnt off some energy, we sent our victim off to hide for Griffin. As it was the first time Griffin was searching for a victim who he didn't know, he was allowed to watch the victim hide.

The Griff found his victim and was rewarded with his favorite toy. I was waiting back at the truck with a very upset Munchkin. She feels she needs to be in the "thick of things" as it were and gets very upset when she is left in a crate to wait her turn.

Lisette and Griffin came back and I was given the search parameters and told to go and find the "lost victims". There were 2 victims lost in the bush. Mmmmm interesting. How am I going to manage this one? There is always only one way - let the Munchkin go and find them. I need to trust her nose. Anyway.. . off we went. The munchkin quickly indicated that she had picked up a scent. No one there? No problem, must be an older scent. Maybe someone spent the night under that tree. Who knows. Off we went again...up the hill, through the long grass that looked like reeds. "Ooh - what's this?" the Munchkin thought. "Another human? Standing out in the middle of the road. He doesn't look lost... .and he doesn't have my toy!!!!! Can't be the right person." And off she went again. No long afterwards she indicated again that she had picked up a scent. Could this be it? Indeed it was. The Munchkin got a "good girl. Let's go" and off we went again. Not long afterwards she indicated again that she'd picked up scent. "Wait!!!! I know this person. Why is the photographer hiding in the bush? But...  he has my toy. Yippeee". She was very excited and had a good game all the way back to the car. For those that know the Munchkin, a good game all the way back to the car consists of her pulling her toy backwards as I walk forwards. I need to hold the 1 end so she can have a good tug without being pulled off my feet and walking forwards at the same time.