‘It’s a special bond’: Calgary man trains for ultramarathon with pet pooch

An ultra-marathoner from Calgary is covering distances few could fathom and doing it with his best friend by his side. But his pal is of the four-legged variety

Calgary ultramarathon runner Evan Birch says his running companion can do something yours likely can’t: hit 40 kilometres-an-hour on four legs.

Birch has been running with his dog Nova, a seven-year-old Hungarian Vizsla, for years now.

“I always wanted a dog that I could run with, and I knew as I was starting to go on the trails more and increasing distance, I wanted someone that I didn’t have to make plans with or put time in the calendar with,” Birch told CTV News.

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“Hungarian Vizslas are just known for being runners. They’re usually picking out birds in the field for eight hours a day, so I knew she would be there, and it was just a matter of gradually increasing her distance to see what she was capable of.”

After years of slowly increasing the distance they run together, the duo recently took a stab at the Orcas Island 100, a 100-mile (160-kilometre) race in Washington.

While Birch and Nova didn’t complete the race, they did cover a remarkable 75 miles (120 kilometres) together before missing one of the race’s cutoff times.

Birch was thrilled, and says Nova was too.

“Hungarian Vizslas are a weird breed,” he said. “As soon as you show them what they’re capable of, it’s almost like you’re creating a monster, because they want more. They want to go further. I knew as soon as I kept on going further that she would just want to go with me.”

Birch says the Orcas Island 100 was a one-time deal, because he doesn’t want to “overdo it,” but says he learned a lot about Nova — and himself — during the race.

“It’s a special bond, for sure,” he said.

Out on the trails, he says Nova’s safety comes first.

He makes sure to watch her energy levels and slows down — or stops — if she seems tired. Nutrition is paramount, and Birch says if something seems off, the run takes a backseat.

Vets tell CTV News they’re impressed by the long distances, but recommend any other runners check with an expert before dialling up the distance with their canine.

Though Nova won’t be taking part in Birch’s next ultramarathon, you can bet she’ll still be training with him.

“If she’s off-leash, just know she passes on the right,” he laughed.

“Don’t be scared because she will absolutely zoom past you.”