The big dogs gathered at Huddleston Elementary School for the first challenge since the July 4 Peachtree Road Race.  Big dog Finucan had just successfully completed his first marathon in Chicago two weeks earlier, running a Boston qualifying time of 3:18.  Middle-sized dog Adams also finished a marathon the same weekend as Finucan, doing a 3:19 in St. George, UT.  The other mid-dog Vlastnik had been training well since Peachtree, running and winning local 10K races against female dogs from other packs.  Little dog Anderson, otherwise known as Pooper Scooper at this point, was lying low, keeping his big mouth to himself for a change.

            Adams spent the time before the race trying to figure out which race the other big dogs were going to run.  There was a choice between the 5K and 15K races, and Adams wanted no part of Finucan.  When big dog Adams learned the other big dogs were running the 5K, he opted for what he thought would be the less competitive 15K.  He had won this race two years running.

            The big dogs were off.  Anderson and Finucan went through the first mile together in 5:55.  Vlastnik and Michelle Binkley (Vlastnik’s new rival, known also as Trish’s shadow) went through in 6:25.  The rest of the Peachtree City Running Club dogs were behind these four pacesetters.  Anderson and Finucan went through mile 2 together in 11:56.  The blistering pace was a shock to Finucan’s legs, which were still recovering from the marathon.  Anderson was desperately trying to break Finucan before the race came down to a kick, for he knew he was no match for Finucan’s raw speed.  With a half mile to go, Finucan pulled ahead by one, then by two strides.  Rounding the last turn, Anderson gamely tried to sprint, but big dog Finucan held him in check.  Big dog Finucan kept the trophy by winning in 18:48 versus Anderson’s 18:49.  Vlastnik outkicked Binkley in the last quarter mile, finishing in 20:00.  The big dogs swept the top three spots in the 5K race.

            Meanwhile, Adams realized he badly miscalculated his competition by picking the 15K race.  Worried so much about the other big dogs, he underestimated the strength of other Running Club dogs.  Adams finished the 15K in 1:05.  This was only one minute off of last years pace, but four male dogs and one female dog from the other pack finished ahead of Adams.