What do these runners have in common?

Michelle Ross-Cope, Susan Partridge, Holly Rush

A European Cup Bronze medal....and they all have rather furry training partners!

On 31st July this year Michelle Ross-Cope, Susan Partridge and Holly Rush represented Great Britain in the European Championship Marathon in Barcelona. They finished in 14th, 16th and 20th respectively and were the 3 members of the 6 strong team that scored the points for the bronze medal.

These girls have a lot in common: they are exceedingly talented and totally driven in their pursuit of marathon success. They also have superb back up teams that include faithful training partners to accompany them on training runs through rain and shine!

Michelle and Training Partner, Charlie

Charlie is a chocolate labrador and she is 20 months old.

Her favourite training session is one where she can carry a big stick.

Training can sometimes be hazardous depending on the size of the stick as she occasionally hits Michelle's legs with it when running alongside!

Both Michelle and Charlie love running along trails to a local woodland area.

Training is at a good pace unless Michelle needs a recovery run in which case she will stop to throw sticks for Charlie.

Charlie stays on her lead on the footpaths as she is still young, but runs at heel alongside Michelle if the route is traffic free.

They choose routes that have room for Charlie to squeeze underneath the stiles as she prefers to go under rather than over.

Charlie's two favourite things are running and food. Like most labradors Charlie loves her food and can be bribed with it.

Susan and Training Partner, Piper.

Piper is a German Shorthaired Pointer and is two years old.

Piper's most favourite thing is going for a long run. Susan has tried to do speed work involving repetitions over shorter distances with recovery in between but he doesn’t understand why you would want to run back and forward and just gives up and starts sniffing around.

Piper likes to play fetch but Susan often has to buy replacement balls as he likes to chew the ball up. He likes going in water but he doesn’t know he can swim yet and so doesn’t go out of his depth.

Susan is planning to have a go at a Cani-X event as it doesn’t seem fair that Piper does the training but doesn’t get to race. He usually accompanies Susan's husband, Martin, to watch at races and gets very excited when he sees Susan run past. 

Piper can be trusted to run to heel off lead but puts his lead on for the road sections.

He has learnt how to jump over stiles. Cows are a bit of a hazard. They once met one running up the middle of the road that tried to attack them. Susan jumped over the wall but the lead got stuck between the stones and Piper got head-butted! On another occasion he fell into the canal whilst running under a bridge and, as he hasn't realised he can swim he panicked and Susan had to drag him out. He wasn’t at all traumatised though and just acted like nothing had happened while Susan sat in a big puddle at the side of the canal!

Holly and Training Partner, Mr. Mole (Moley for short)

Moley is an 8 month old German Wire Haired Pointer.

He likes to run along the Kennett and Avon canal which passes just outside his front door but, his favourite run is through Becky Addy Woods, near the famous Brunel Viaduct at Avoncliff.

For cross training he likes to go swimming in the River Avon and has a passion for chasing tennis balls and losing them.

Moley likes to run off the lead and likes to be in front of Holly. However, he hasn't quite worked out stiles and kissing gates and so Holly is able to catch up with him then. He will also wait for her at his favourite locations and passes the waiting time by chasing resident ducks and herons who live along the canal. He shows a great love for canal boats and their owners, especially when they have barbecues, picnics or ice creams on offer. He has been known to climb aboard a boat when the owners aren't looking and jump on their beds!

Moley recently entered his first dog show and was judged by Martin Clunes. He is thinking of doing gun dog classes next year.