I found a new running partner. My wife and I have considered looking for one from the Champaign County Humane Society for some time, but the other day we finally decided to actually go and “just have a look.” We already have a dog, and it was coming up on the one-year anniversary since putting down our other elderly one. It was time to find a new friend.
Being the runner that I am, I had a desire to find a new running buddy. That’s not to say that Pearl, our current dog, doesn’t run, but being the scent hound mixed breed that she is, she’s more interested in what is on the ground than what is in front of her. I wanted a running partner that would be sleek and svelte. Or, at least, interested in tagging along on a run.
Enter Spud.
The Humane Society thought he looked speedy. But, he wasn’t. Based on his slow pace, hard shell, and general calm demeanor, I think he’s an Illinois Mud turtle. He doesn’t do much. In fact, the leash doesn’t fit him well, and when I do start running with him, he kind of drags his feet behind me. It’s not pretty. Instead, I’ve taken to running circles around him as Spud works his way down the driveway. It takes about 40 minutes to make it to the sidewalk, but it’s quite a workout. I get a bit dizzy, though.
Ben Hill, of Urbana, is a turtle and exotic pet veterinarian with the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Illinois. He owns an Illinois Mud turtle named Breanne, and he’s also a runner. Hill says, “Turtles need exercise, and often walking isn’t enough.” Hill and Breanne have run together for eight years. “We started out with pretty short runs,” he says, “but she can outrun me some days.”
Turtles can run long distances with appropriate training, not just the block or two you might think. Sure, it takes longer, but some turtles, like Breanne, run marathons or more in six to eight months. “My turtle is a champ,” Hill says. “She’s even run an ultra. It takes longer, for sure, but it is well worth the wait.”
Running with turtles. Calm. Slow. Steady.