Rich on Running: Four-legged friends can make two-legged runs more enjoyable

On mornings out on the bike path in Cambridge, it is not uncommon for me to see fellow runners accompanied by canine companions.This past Sunday, while on an afternoon walk at the Fresh Pond Reservoir, my girlfriend suggested I take our West Highland white terrier, Daisy, for a short run. Daisy is no stranger to running, having scampered across the beaches of Lynn, Nahant and Swampscott. With seemingly every dog in Cambridge out on the pathways along the pond – for the curious, the round trip is 2.4 miles – it seemed like a good day for Daisy to rejoin the running ranks.The ground was hilly, but the distance we traveled wasn’t that long, and the delightful aroma of pine floated through the air. I made sure to keep a good grip on Daisy’s leash and repeatedly looked behind me to assess how well she was keeping pace. Turns out she motored along the path just fine, and her light-blue winter “jacket” made her easy to spot.When we go running with our pets, it is important to follow basic safety procedures, especially in winter conditions.”When it’s cold, keep in mind that your dog can get winded fast,” said Amy, a technician at the Saugus Animal Hospital who declined to give her last name. “Some dogs with a heavy coat can get overheated. Some dogs can’t handle the cold for a long time.”Amy added that snow, ice and salt on the ground can cause injuries to dogs, and that snowbanks are an extra peril due to the cars that move around them. She recommended reflective clothing at night and said to keep your dog leashed at all times, whether day or night.”If your dog gets away, you can’t get to them as fast,” she said. “There are leash laws in most towns around here. Even a well-trained dog with good recall can get distracted. They’re still animals.”While a leash may be a necessity, when it comes to other accessories, it sounds like there is “No Jacket Required,” as Phil Collins would say.”It varies greatly,” Amy said when asked about the importance of a coat, noting that they might not benefit an Akita ? but that you might want one if you own a Chihuahua.As with any health-related issue, it’s important for those who run with dogs to be aware of preexisting conditions.”Before you start an exercise program,” Amy said, “make sure your dog has been checked by a vet and is healthy enough in the bones, joints, and overall health.”Lynn schools ready for finaleThe Classical and English boys and girls indoor track teams will conclude their respective dual-meet seasons with meets against each other today at Tech (7). All four head coaches sounded excited.English boys coach John Walsh said defeating Classical in the finale would be “huge, huge. It would give us a winning season.” The Bulldogs currently stand at 3-3.Walsh said this year’s Bulldogs team has “rock-solid distance kids and a great shot put team.” He cited distance runners Alex Bonitto, Chris Birotte and Jared Fossa and shot-putters Derek Stevens, Cory Burt and Gabe Robinson.Stevens has qualified for the states, as has Melvin Tavares in the 55 dash.The Classical boys enter the meet at 1-3, and Rams coach Ryan Hathaway characterizes the season finale as a matchup of “very similar teams.”Traditionally we’re good in sprints, jumping and throwing,” Hathaway said. “We have good distance runners this year, which is nice.”Sprinter Rudy Collymore has qualified for the states in the 55 dash, while Danny Omoregie has also qualified in the shot put.”A lot of guys have made pretty big strides this year,” Hathaway said.On the girls side, Classical goes into the finale against English at 1-3. The Rams will also run against Saugus to make the matchup a tri-meet.”We’ve been very competitive for the first time ever,” Classical coach Lauren Phelps said. “Two meets we lost by less than 10 points. The last meet, with Swampscott, went real well.”Two team members have qualified for the states: Hulerie McGuffie in the 300 and Saffi Bangura in the 55 meters. Mackenzie Coppinger needs three more inches in the sho