Want your own Brooklyn Running Dog?

One of my favorite ways to go running right now is with the BARC dogs. BARC is the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition, a no kill animal shelter that has been saving cats and dogs in Williamsburg for the past 20 years. While organizing Present for Pets, we contacted BARC to see what their donation needs might be. Howard Wu, BARC kennel supervisor, got back to us with the list and a request for some dog running. Julie and I were very happy to oblige. For the past three weeks we have been taking out sweet BARC dogs, in need of homes, for some much appreciated exercise. You can take these dogs out for a walk too! Yes, you. It's a great way to get some exercise, some puppy love and give back to the community in a fun and simple way. All you need is to be 21 or older, have a valid form of I.D. and fill out the BARC Volunteer Release Form. The hours are 9am to noon everyday of the week and 5:30pm to 7:30pm Monday through Friday. I can't express to you how much fun it is and how great to feels. Who knows, you might even meet the dog of your dreams. I know I have (if only Tobias and Crockpot, my cats, would allow it). Today while at the shelter I took out two lovely dogs that would be great for fellow runners. Both of these dogs started off a little crazy pants but after a 2.5 mile run, they were mellow and running stride in stride with me. I started with Hennesey. An American Pit Bull / Terrier Mix, she has a sweet rosy nose and an equally rosy disposition. On the BARC site they say, "She gets along with some other dogs, as she is an alpha female. Her friends here are generally the calm, older dogs here. She loves people though, she will cuddle with you all day, but she would also like an active home, where she can go running in the park. Hennesey is definitely not good with cats!!" Her weight is 50 lbs and she's 6 years old. 
She's great! Next I went for a jog with Kenneth, but by the end of the outing he was Kenny to me. He started out like a wild man but after taking care of business and getting into a nice running rhythm he was quite the gentleman. A Retriever / Shepherd Mix, he is a very young man at only one year old and 50 lbs in weight. According to BARC, "He looks like he is all Golden Retriever, but has a touch of black on his tail which looks a bit like a German Shepherd's. He is extremely sweet with people, but very energetic. He also isn't a fan of some other dogs. However, we have a training program that is helping to socialize him with other dogs. Kenneth will need an adopter that can continue his training, but we are sure Kenneth will make someone a wonderful companion." Go meet him, he is quite a cutie. You can see more pictures and read about more dogs at the BARC Dog Gallery. I hope some of you take the time to take these dogs out for yourself, you'll be glad you did. Happy Running!

The Great Pupkin Costume Contest

To kick off our Halloween, Julie and I headed out to Fort Greene Park and looked on as 84 pets dawned costumes and paraded around for all the neighborhood to see. It was a lot of squealing at the unbelievable cuteness of the dogs and the impressive creativity of the costumes. Fort Greene PUPS did an awesome job of putting the event together. Julie and I took a few pictures on my crappy camera phone, here they are.





There were turtles, nuns, balloon dogs, owners dressed up like their dogs and dogs dressed up as their owners. One of our personal favorites was the battered owner with a sign that said "My dog bites" and an ironically well behaved pooch who accompanied her, carrying around a severed arm all afternoon. If you want to get a better look at the costume madness here are some professional pictures posted by the PUPS. Fantastic. The weather was beautiful and Julie and I managed to meet some potential new running friends. If you missed it this year, I highly suggest you check it out next year, pooch or no pooch, costume or no costume. Hope everyone had an exciting and safe Halloween. Happy Running!

Presents 4 Pets

Alright runners, dog lovers and fans of the blog, the time for action is here. Let's all do a good deed and get involved with Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Julie and I are organizing a donation drive, running for the next two weeks, called Presents 4 Pets. We will be collecting collars, towels, cleaning supplies, treats and toys for cats and dogs for donation to BARC (Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition). The event is in honor of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week which runs from November 1st -7th. Animal shelters are very near and dear to our hearts. Many of our clients are rescued, as well as Julie's dog Mylo and my kitten Tobias (who is pictured here in all his adorable glory). Donations can be new or gently used. Shelters rely heavily on their community to keep them up and running so let's help out ours through this event. All the information you need to get involved is right here.

Help animals in need!

The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States’

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is proud to announce our annual collection drive to benefit shelter and rescue pets!

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

November 1 – 7, 2009

Presents 4 Pets is a nationwide program designed

to help support local shelters and rescue groups

and the animals they serve.

These abandoned pets need your help! You can provide for their comfort by donating:

Toys – Treats – Blankets – Towels – Rugs – Bleach

Beds – Leashes – Collars – Coupons – Newspapers

…and more!

Drop off donations in the donation box at Blue Angel Wines 638 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY

Or contact

949)439-6990

info@brooklyndogrunners.com

www.brooklyndogrunners.com

All donations will be distributed to BARC (Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition)

Long Weekend

My favorite month of the year and it is already blowing past. The air is crispy and my legs are so happy to be moving, it must be October. As a California transplant to New York I am still taken by the magic of fall in the city. I have had plenty of time to enjoy New York's new season while literally running around town from the Upper East Side to Staten Island, learning pet CPR, demonstrating how to put on a d-tag for fellow runners and getting to know our southern most borough in 13.1 miles. Last weekend was glorious. It started Friday morning at 8:30am when Julie and I jogged over to the county clerk's office to file some very important Brooklyn Dog Runners paper work. In this time of economic crisis, I have been trying to save money by using the subway less and my camel bak and feet more. The trip to Brooklyn Heights is faster on foot anyways. We headed down Montrose Avenue and then caught up with the BQE by way of Penn Street. With the expressway in sight we could follow it almost the entire way. Julie and I hung a left on Tillary Street and left on Adams and found ourselves standing in front of the Supreme Court Building feeling invigorated and slightly sweaty. After an embarrassing three trips in and out of the building to get various forms notarized and monies withdrawn, the paper work was filed and we headed to Union Square to check out Paragon Sports for some work clothes. I had wanted to run but knew it was going to be a long day and conceded that it looked like rain, getting on the subway. From Union Square I ran uptown on Lexington Avenue to the New York Road Runners Club on 89th street and 5th avenue. I am completing the 9+1 program to gain entry to the 2010 New York Marathon and volunteering is the +1 part. It was painless and actually kind of fun. I got to demonstrate how to put on a d-tag for runners and enjoyed talking to people and wishing them luck for the race that weekend. After my shift I ran home to Williamsburg (back down Lex, heading East on 14th street to 1st Avenue and then downtown further until Delancy and finally taking the Williamsburg Bridge across the river) and got a good night's sleep. Saturday morning Julie and I completed a Pet First Aid class at the Red Cross. It was very interesting. We learned CPR for cats and dogs, splinting and how to make a muzzle out of a handkerchief. I've been practicing my new skills on my kitten Tobias and he seems pretty unimpressed with my knowledge but I keep telling him I could use it to save his life someday. With first aid completed Julie and I headed over to Bushwick where we took two new friends running, Riley and Madeleine. We love this boxer duo. They are great runners who stay side by side the whole way. It was a beautiful day and I got some great pictures of Julie with the dogs.
This one is my personal favorite, can you see the light from heaven shining down upon her? Glorious. After our run I had a quick snack at home and then scooted over to the Willburg Cafe where I worked pedaling coffee until close. Upon returning home it was straight to bed to get as much rest as possible before the Staten Island Half Marathon. After the Queens Half Marathon last month I was a little apprehensive about Staten Island. I didn't want a repeat so I did my best to get everything right preparation wise. I had an awesome rice and bean burrito for dinner. I had all my goo and fuel belt packed up and ready to go. I had a pot of coffee set to brew and greet me at 5am. The more prepared and planned I am the better I feel. It really paid off. I had a great race. The weather was fantastic and Staten Island was beautiful. The course was lined with locals cheering the runners on and shouting encouragement. I finished in 1 hour and 55 minutes. Even better, the bagel that I got at the finish line was French Toast flavored and it was so delicious I am still thinking about it. After a few hours of rest I returned to Willburg and closed up shop that night. It was a freaking long weekend and Monday I took a huge nap but all in all I was super happy I got so much accomplished. Two more races with the NYRR and I am good to go for NYC Marathon 2010, our puppy running schedule is filling out nicely and I am certified to help in a pet emergency. Fantastic. Happy Running!

Night of the Dog

Mylo and I went to work Saturday night volunteering at the first annual Brooklyn Bridge Pup Crawl, in an effort to raise money and awareness for the estimated 1 million pets losing their homes due to foreclosures this year. We had the pleasure of walking across the Bridge along side 400 amazing dogs and their loving owners!I hear that the night raised over $3,000 and counting! The money will be divided amoung shelters across the US. From our beloved Brooklyn based BARC , Get-A-Life Pet Rescue of Fort Lauderdale Florida and Ace of Hearts in Los Angeles.Joseph Hassan animal lover, PR pro and creator of The Pup Crawl mentioned that $20 is enough to feed one shelter pet for an entire month! His hope is that animals given up due to foreclosures will be able to spend a little time in shelters or foster homes, then be readopted by their original families when they're back on their feet.The event was so meaningful for me, as I am so blessed with the greatest shelter dog imaginable! Mylo and I had a great time! We even got to take home an awesome t-shirt for volunteering, an illuminated lead from LuLu Leash to light up the bridge, and yummy doggie treats!

Pup Crawl Registration from Michael Santos on Vimeo.

A Running Fool Makes a New Friend

Sunday morning I woke up dark and early (to the tune of 4:15am), ate my peanut butter toast, strapped on my Nikes and set out for the G train to begin my journey to College Point, Queens. Why in god's name would I do such a thing? Well, the Queens half marathon tied in with my commitment to run 9 New York Road Runners races by the end of the year and gain automatic entry to New York City ING Marathon 2010. I feel like this is a pretty good reason but my body definitely felt otherwise. Here is a self photograph that conveys my emotions, taken that morning. I know, gorgeous right?
The thing about running is that somedays the old legs are just not in the mood. Sometimes, you just don't feel like it. Sunday was this type of a day for me but, I had no choice. I kept my head down and powered through finishing in just under 2 hours, not bad. From the finish line I called a car and headed back to home sweet Brooklyn where I found out someone did not show up to the Willburg Cafe (where I work) and they would need me to come in early. Sweet! Immediately, I showered and ran down the street to have my apron on and a stack of dirty dishes in my hands by 10:30am. Running a waitress short, we hustled around until 4pm, at which time I ran home and then around the corner to meet a new pup, Gracie. After a test drive last night, Gracie and I went on our first official run today.
What an athlete! We did a loop (about 2.8 miles) from Meserole and Union down to McCarren Park and then came back on Lorimer. The weather was gorgeous, Gracie was in a chipper mood and although today was meant to be my running day off, I was grateful for the relief a short run brought to my sore body. Still a bit of a puppy, Miss Gracie is easily distracted by squirrels (who doesn't love a squirrel) but other then that a focused and enthusiastic runner. It was an excellent start to a big running week for me. I have a few dogs lined up and, on my own training schedule, a 17 mile run this Sunday. I can't wait. Happy running!

Guerrilla Marketing

We have officially launched Brooklyn Dog Runners with our inaugural marketing camping, a Brooklyn inspired marketing angle. I ran around the neighborhood with packing tape and flyers and attacked a few lampposts and community boards. Always the multi-tasker, I managed to turn a 5 mile training run into a work day as well. I set out from my house and planted the first flyer at Humboldt and Montrose.

















I thought that a smart move, after starting close to home, would be to hit up some local parks. From Montrose I swung a left on Bushwick Avenue and then turned right on Olive Street to stop by Cooper Park. There is a really nice dog run there so I hung a flier on the community board then went ahead and ran a loop around the park. The weather was glorious today, real adventure weather, which in my book includes light rain and strong winds. Not weather so extreme that it knocks you down or makes you soaking wet but just creates a sense of urgency and makes you run faster. Before I cut back to Bushwick Avenue, I saw a couple of these flyers up. It's for a Brooklyn PUP Crawl over the Brooklyn Bridge. It's free they just ask for a small donation that goes to the ASPCA. It looks like a fun date night for you and your dog! Check it out at www.thepupcrawl.com

From Cooper Park I went back to Bushwick Avenue via Olive Street and then made a right on Humboldt to head over to McCarren Park. Slipping under the BQE I made a left on Bayard Street and stopped to illuminate a lamp post on the wonders of Brooklyn Dog Runners. Here I am commemorating our first marketing campaign on the corner of Bayard and Lorimer Street.

At this point I ran out of packing tape and made a mental note to bring up our lack of supplies at the next board meeting. I still had some ground to cover for training so I proceeded to take Driggs Avenue under the Williamsburg Bridge and then made a left on Broadway, a left on Havemeyer, a right on Grand and kept on running until I got the Willburg Cafe where I snagged an iced coffee and talked with my friend Aurora for a while. It was a great day on the job to say the least. Thanks for catching up on the blog and make sure to become our fan on Facebook... and tell your friends and their friends. Happy running!

Where my dogs at?

No dogs today! Julie and I are still in the final stages of getting Brooklyn Dog Runners up and ...well, running, so to speak. Julie's working on the website and fliers, I've gotten us bonded and insured and I think we are days away from beginning to book appointments. In the meantime I'm still running, just without any pups today at least. November 22nd I'll be running the Philadelphia Marathon so I've got work to do. Sunday I completed an amazing long run crossing both the Williamsburg and the Brooklyn bridge, cruising around Fort Greene Park and finally getting a little turned around in Carroll Gardens. The weather was great and the 15 miles somehow seemed to fly by. Monday was my day of rest and now, today I am back on the streets for a four mile run. I did one of my favorite old stand-bys, across the Williamsburg bridge and back via Broadway.



From Montrose Avenue in Williamsburg, I head west towards Broadway and make a right. The sidewalks here can be bustling but for the most part they are wide and give ample room for dodging and darting around fellow pedestrians.


Continuing along Broadway, I pass the bus terminal on the right and then a little further up, Peter Luger's on the left.

At Bedford I turn right and begin the ascent of the bridge. This walkway over the bridge is on the south side and much steeper then the north side of the bridge. I usually keep my head down and try and pretend it's not hill at all when climbing hills. This technique works well for me but it's not the best idea when in a narrow, caged-in walkway. I make sure to keep my eyes up and pay attention for oncoming traffic.

Serendipitously, I saw a young guy running his dog, (some sort of a Rottweiler mix) across the bridge. Whenever I see a dog running I smile because they look like they are having so much fun. I've always felt that being a dog runner is one of the best jobs in the world because your clients are so happy to see you. Today's run was great and I'm looking forward to upcoming weeks when I'm no longer at it alone but have a few dog friends to join me.