Fitness for Fido: Dogs Hit the Trail With Their Owners
2011-10-28 ·
By Emily Cebulski
Rio, the SDRI pup, tests the running gear for dogs to make sure it is Fido-friendly.
Man and his best friend have always shared a love of running. Whether it be a casual jog in the park or a long, grueling trail run, dogs have proven to be a great endurance partner for humans. Along with the proper diet, training schedule and gear, some dogs are just as capable of logging as many miles as their two legged owners.
Rio, a mixed breed shelter mutt is just such an example. Not only is Rio a long distance runner, but also the shop dog for the San Diego Running Institute (www.sdri.net), a running specialty retailer located in Mission Valley which recently added running leashes to their inventory to meet growing demand.
“As endurance runners, we here at SDRI want to see all athletes outfitted correctly, including the four legged kind”, said owner Dr. Victor Runco. “The majority of our customers are dog owners themselves so it only seemed natural to include gear for their furry friends.”
Of course Rio has personally tested out the new products, just as the SDRI staff does with all new inventory.
In addition to being the shop dog, Rio is also the course marshall for the Dirt Devil Racing Series, a trail race series sponsored by the San Diego Running Institute. With the growing popularity of these races in recent years, Rio takes his job as marshall very seriously. By offering course support in the form of a wagging tail and wet nose, Rio’s presence is well appreciated by racers.
“Trail races have a less competitive atmosphere than traditional road races, and having a dog out there definitely adds to the fun of the race”, adds Runco.
Between SDRI and Dirt Devil Racing, Rio is one busy canine. If not at work, he’s usually tearing up the trails with Runco, trying to scope out the next great trail race. Even so, he always has energy to help runners of all kinds find the kind of gear they need.
The San Diego Running Institute is a running specialty retailer, offering a custom shoe fitting system developed by owner and chiropractor, Dr. Victor Runco. SDRI offers the latest in shoes, clothing and gear for both the road and trail runner.
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