Meet the dog that runs ultras
Calgary's Evan Birch and his dog Nova are going the (really long) distance
Photo by:
Lucas Cullen and Tommy DeWitt
For the past three years, Calgary-based ultrarunner Evan Birch has sought out challenges that go beyond the ordinary—adventures that tell a story. This year, that story involved his running partner, Nova, a seven-year-old Hungarian Vizsla, and a 100-mile attempt at the Orcas Island 100, held in Olga, Wash.
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While Birch and Nova didn’t complete the entire 100-mile race, they conquered an incredible 75 miles together (before missing the cutoff time) and saw it as a beautiful success. “This was born out of the desire to adventure with Nova into the unknown,” Birch told Canadian Running. “From bringing her home after two back-to-back 14-hour days with her riding shotgun as I hand-fed her kibble to now attempting 100 miles and completing 75 of those is surreal.”
Racing with a canine teammate
Birch is no stranger to ultra distances, having completed multiple races of 100, 200 and even 300 miles. But running alongside Nova required a whole new level of preparation. Before the race, Birch emphasized that Nova had been training for years to run long distances and that the most important part of their journey was Nova’s care and well-being. “This will be the story of Nova the 100-mile dog. We are her ‘Kahu’–her guardians/protectors–and as such, her well-being is our top priority,” he shared on Instagram.
“Nothing prepared me for what I would experience with Nova,” he says. “Working as a team, ensuring we were both fed, watered, and rested to give us the best possible chance of completing the distance was all that was on my mind. It filled my cup to share this adventure with her.”
Training and nutrition with an ultrarunning dog
Over the past six years, Nova has gradually built up her endurance and ability to handle technical terrain. But tackling 100 miles required a unique approach to training, nutrition and recovery. “We had no playbook for this race, other than a conversation with a friend’s father, who owns a sled dog company,” Birch explains. “We talked about smaller meals more often, bone broth in water, and providing adequate rest after each 25-mile loop.”
Nova follows a raw diet of turkey, beef, fruits and vegetables, which Birch credits for helping her stay strong throughout the event.
Gear and logistics: keeping Nova safe
Running a race of this magnitude with a dog required careful planning, and Birch credits his wife and crew chief, Cassie Hawrysh, for keeping both him and Nova on track. “I would not have been able to do this without Cassie,” he says. “Ensuring that I kept myself fuelled and able to complete the distance while taking care of Nova’s gear, fuel, and paw care.”
Birch emphasizes the importance of finding the right gear, including trustworthy harnesses and reliable leashes, and is sponsored by Non-Stop Dogwear, a Norwegian company specializing in running gear for dogs.
The first of its kind
To Birch’s knowledge, no one has ever attempted to complete a 100-mile sanctioned race with a dog. “At Orcas Island 100, there have been a few that have run a loop or two on and off, but nobody that toed the line from the start,” he says. “I am proof that with the right training, care, and conditions, you can achieve so much alongside your dog.”
Though they missed the final cutoff, their 75-mile journey was a win for Birch and Nova. “This was never about ego or outcome,” he says. “Completing 75 miles and missing the cutoff could be seen as a disappointment, but we ran 75 miles and walked away healthy, no injuries, and ready to get after another adventure in the future.”
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Advice for runners looking to go long with their dogs
Birch encourages other runners to take their dogs on adventures, but he emphasizes the importance of patience and preparation.“Start slow, make it fun, and ease them into it,” he advises. “Dogs will do more than what they should to please their owners. Be sure to pick your routes accordingly for water, environmental conditions, and terrain. Ensure you have the right gear and knowledge to get them out of a bad situation.”
For Nova, recovery was surprisingly quick. “I thought recovery for Nova would have been much longer, but she was back to her usual goofy, fun-loving self within three days,” Birch says. “It reaffirms all of the decisions we made in her best interest, understanding that nobody has done this before, so we were cautious and calculated.”
What’s next for Birch and Nova?
While Birch believes Nova could complete 100 miles, he’s content with this being their only attempt at the distance.
“Do I think she is capable of 100 miles? Yes, I do. But this was a one-and-done attempt at this distance, and I am OK with knowing that,” he says. “Superpowers aren’t meant to be seen by everyone, so for Nova, I feel like I get to protect that for her.”
Birch and Nova will be featured in a short documentary, set to air in May. Stay tuned for when it comes out by following Birch’s YouTube.
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