FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2005
As the mercury continued to drop in the face of the latest "Siberian Express," Jack Douglas announced plans have begun for the 2005 version of the Canine Caper. At the January 13, 2005 meeting of Second Chance Animal Adoption, the group gave the go ahead to start preparing and established the date as Saturday, April 23, 2005. The details are being worked out, but Douglas stated it will probably be at the same beautiful course and be at the same time.
Canine Caper began in 2004 as a way to enable dog owners and dog lovers to get out in the community for a dog walk, and at the same time raise some money for Second Chance Animal Adoption. "I was just thinking late one evening last winter about how we could do something to help the animals in the community, and all of a sudden I had this idea for a dog walk to raise money and help make people more aware, and it ended up working very well." Jack Douglas stated.
Indeed. Even though Canine Caper was a first time newcomer to Boundary County in 2004, it drew 114 people and 83 dogs and raised over $800.00 for Second Chance Animal Adoption. The success of that event helped lead to others putting together the "Benji" dog event later in the year, which was another big success.
"I just thought it showed what we could do as a community," Douglas said, "What helps to make Boundary County so special is that people here care about grass roots, about making a difference in the community. It was amazing to us that people traveled great distances to get here, too."
Douglas said that the group hopes to draw about 200 people and close to that number of dogs for the 2005 event. "The dogs were well behaved and you could almost see smiles on their faces as they walked down the road on a leash, pulling their owners behind them. When I saw the beauty and goodness of that moment, I knew we would do the event again. It really brought people and their pets together in a poignant moment. We have plans to make this year's event even more special, but those we will release over time as plans finalize," Douglas stated.
Douglas said people do not have to walk a dog to enter the event. He said it is open to one and all, and pointed out that he even walked it himself last year, chatting with dog lovers along the course. "I brought up the rear, but I had a good time and that was a main reason to do the event," he said.
Yes, the snow may be deep and the cold chill has set in for at least a few days, but Douglas said that spring is not far off. With spring will come Bloomsday in May and the annual June Kootenai River Run. "I know that event organizers for the Kootenai River Run are already starting to get prepared behind the scenes. I can hardly wait, because our goal will be to make 2005 special and the best it has ever been. That ought to be our goal every year, but this year we have lots of good helpers and concerned people already pulling together, so I believe we can make this year our best so far," Douglas said. Douglas said he is also considering ways to encourage more walkers to enter Canine Caper and the 3.1 mile part of Kootenai River Run, noting that those who do seem to have a good time.
Douglas also said that there is consideration being given to adding a half marathon to the Kootenai River Run, so that there would be three courses and three different runs open for whatever fitness level a person has:
Douglas said that the concept of a "marathon" comes from a famous battle in history on the Plains of Marathon in ancient Greece in September, 490 B.C. The Greek defenders were locked in a battle with the Persians, who had invaded Greece with a large army bent on conquest. Persia is modern-day Iran. At the time, Persia was contesting with Greece supremacy in the region. In something of an upset, the Greek warriors, most of them citizens of Athens, won a decisive victory over the Persian hordes. Athens lay about 26.2 miles to the south of the battle. Greek generals feared that the Persian fleet would sail down to Athens and falsely claim victory before the truth could be known, and thereby seek to cause a surrender of the city. To forestall that possibility, the Greeks sent their fastest and best runner, Pheidippides, on a run of about 26.2 miles to Athens overland to spread the word of their victory and cause the defenders of Athens to stiffen their resolve before the arrival of the Persian fleet. The plan worked, and in memory of that historic moment, the idea of a 26.2 mile run called the "Marathon" was born. A half-marathon is simply half of the distance, or 13.1 miles.
Such is the stuff of romance and legend. For people living now, the marathon and the half-marathon always represent a particular challenge. Douglas said some like that kind of challenge and he believed it might be time to add a 13.1 mile event for those types of runners. A longer event is likely to bring in out of town runners who cannot easily find such an event somewhere else.
The Canine Caper is a leisurely 3.1 mile walk with your dog down a dirt country road with beautiful scenery. Douglas said that the Canine Caper is not intended to be challenging. "We don't even time that event. Everyone is encouraged to just turn out and have a good time. Take your time, smell the flowers and take in the wonder of what God created for you and your beloved pet to enjoy. That's how I see the Canine Caper," Douglas said.
He also said that more word will be put out closer to the event, but he wanted people to know now that the Canine Caper is a "go" and that people can expect an effort in 2005 to surpass even the highly memorable good time of 2004.