years of the CaniNe ClasSic

By Brian Krumm

FOR ONE DAY EACH YEAR, The Resort at Paws Up® becomes a 37,000-acre dog park. On August 27, Paws Up will celebrate its fifteenth year of welcoming two-legged and four-legged competitors to the annual Canine Classic, a dog-friendly two-mile walk, five-mile run or half-marathon. The event sends 100 percent of its proceeds to the Working Dogs for Conservation organization, headquartered in nearby Turah, Montana, whose mission is to "train the world’s best conservation detection dogs and put them to work protecting wildlife and wild places." Conservation dogs specialize not in the more typical canine duties of detecting drugs, bombs and cancers but rather in sniffing out larvae of invasive mussels or highly endangered flowers hidden in fields, for example.

Mindy Marcum, director of special projects and one of the Canine Classic’s organizers, is especially excited to welcome runners and their furry friends for the milestone fifteenth year. She mentioned that the Classic is unique in that competitors can let dogs off their leashes for the event, which takes place on the animal-trap-free Paws Up property, and that the half-marathon participants are in for quite an experience: "The 13-mile is really amazing. You run through the entire property, next to the river, along the homes, through the camps, along the rock quarry. Literally all the terrain you can think of, you're probably running it."

Marcum also applauded the Working Dogs organization's efforts, because the dogs utilized are typically rescue dogs that can't be housed due to aggressive tendencies. The dogs are given jobs such as finding illegally traded ivory in Africa or locating endangered animals instead of being euthanized.

For the Classic, Marcum says usually about 200 people participate, of varying skill levels: "We have some serious runners that really want to be timed and then we have participants that casually jog along the trail. There are some who just hike, too. So, it really is for everybody." First place in the men's and women's categories is officially recognized, with some fun awards presented as well, such as "dirtiest dog" and "fastest dog." Lunch is served after the race.

As is tradition, the Wine & Bitch Dinner, hosted by co-owner Nadine Lipson and her dog Fenway, takes place the day before the Classic, on August 26 this year. Last year, the dinner was held at the new outdoor dining venue Shed, and an auction was held, featuring various goods from local businesses and artisans. That is the plan for this year as well, Marcum mentioned. Canines can expect treats from the Honest Kitchen and human runners will get a schwag bag after the race.

To sign up for the Canine Classic and the Wine & Bitch event, visit pawsup.com/events/canine-classic Participants have the option of fundraising instead of paying a registration fee (and fundraisers get a shot at a glamping gift card), but all runners are contributing to supporting an innovative and humane organization—and to the health of dogs and humans alike.