A marathon challenge begins today with no crowded starting pen, no anxious watch checking and considerably more stopping to inspect lampposts.
The IAMS Dog Run Marathon has opened on Strava, inviting owners and their dogs to accumulate 26.2 miles during September. Unlike a conventional marathon, the distance can be divided across an entire month and completed through a mixture of walks, jogs and runs.
Participants have from 1 September until 30 September to reach the target, with their activities recorded through Strava’s Pet Tag feature.
Marathon Distance Without Marathon Day
No dog is being asked to cover the full marathon distance in one outing.
The challenge is cumulative, meaning every qualifying walk or run contributes towards the total. Spread evenly across September, the target works out at approximately 1.4 kilometres per day.
A maximum of 5K can count on any one day. That means even the most enthusiastic canine participant would need at least nine separate days to complete the challenge.
The daily limit is intended to discourage owners from treating the event like a traditional race. There is no advantage in pushing the pace, and a walk with several lengthy sniffing breaks counts towards the same goal.
Olympic Champions Bring Their Dogs Along
The campaign has been launched with Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis Woodhall, Paralympic 400m champion Hunter Woodhall and their dogs, Milo and Winnie.
It forms part of a partnership between Mars Petcare, the company behind IAMS, and Strava. The collaboration uses Strava’s Pet Tag, which allows an owner to connect a dog to an activity recorded on the platform.
The concept gives dogs some recognition for the quiet training miles they cover beside their owners. They may not receive a race number when marathon day arrives, but many have already completed countless training kilometres along the way.
A $10,000 Prize For One Lucky Owner
The campaign also comes with an unusually large reward.
One randomly selected grand prize winner is set to receive a $10,000 training bonus, 26 bags of IAMS dog food and a custom medal. The winning dog’s photograph is also due to appear on a running shirt worn by the Woodhalls.
Another 26 randomly selected finishers are expected to receive branded running equipment and dog food packages.
The winners are selected through a draw, so there is no reason to chase a fast finishing time. A leisurely walker has the same chance as somebody completing the distance at running pace.
The advertised cash prize, food rebate and product packages are attached to the United States promotion. Dog owners in Ireland should therefore check the eligibility terms before assuming that joining the Strava challenge qualifies them for any of the prizes.
Let The Dog Set The Pace
The organisers advise owners to consider their dog’s age, breed, health and current fitness before taking part.
Some dogs may be comfortable running several kilometres, while others will be far happier completing the challenge through short daily walks. Owners with any concerns are advised to speak with a vet before increasing their dog’s usual activity.
The 5K daily limit should not be treated as a recommended distance for every animal. Signs of tiredness, discomfort or overheating should always bring an outing to an end, regardless of what remains on the Strava total.
There may be a marathon medal at the heart of the campaign, but this is one occasion when the dog gets to decide the pace.
The IAMS Dog Run Marathon can be joined through Strava, with further campaign information available in the official Mars announcement.
