Medicine Hat runner qualifies for Boston Marathon with help from dog-powered training

Corry’s running training

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What began as helping a friend exercise her dog has grown into a regular program, with Leduc now running with up to 18 dogs, including about 10 consistently.

“There’s got to be lots of people that are busy at work, [or] are not physically capable of taking their dogs out for even so much as a walk, and so I thought, let’s see what happens,” Leduc said.

Leduc estimates he has logged more than 1,100 km running alongside the dogs, which have helped him maintain consistency throughout his training, including on days with poor weather or low motivation.

“It’s worked out great. There are some days that I just don’t feel like running, which happens to everybody, but the dogs keep me accountable,” Leduc said.

“Even if the weather’s terrible, even days where I’m tired, [the dogs] kind of pull me along a little bit, give me a little bit of assistance in my extra run, and it’s worked out great,” he added.

“I even get more kilometres in than I probably would have on my own.”

Leduc said he plans to enter the race focused on the experience rather than a specific finishing time, with anticipation building as race day approaches.

“I’m going into this run with no real expectations of any specific time. I’m there to enjoy the race and soak up the crowds,” Leduc said.

“It’s been a long time coming.”

To mark the occasion, the families of the dogs he runs with have created a custom shirt featuring their pets’ faces, which he plans to wear during the race.

The Boston Marathon is scheduled for April 20.

by Jett Schwaier

Medicine Hat runner qualifies for Boston Marathon with help from dog-powered training

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