Epigenetically modified canicross activities.

Vivid post-exhaustion philisophy.

It is the terminal end of the running-season on snow-covered trails. It isApril 17^th and an anticipated thawing season has begun. Once a year I like to test my physical condition by running an insanely exhausting track. It starts off ascending steep, then increasingly becoming steeper and steeper until reaching the top. Usually I have no hope in my age to expect any progression, however I want to be able to confirm that my capacity for running hasnt declined. Today I took the test, a sunny day with a mild wind that gave me the courage to do some extravaganza after a long winter. Nia and Ulv were my running-mates on this trip. Unlike my other wolfdogs who seem to settle on an even trotting speed which they are unwilling to change, Nia and Ulv can be encouraged to both brake and increase the speed during a run. They have a little «husky-mentality» in that sense. The track starts climbing uphill already at the first steps. Usually before reaching the top my thighs ache, my lips become cyanotic, my vision become blurred, then dizziness and a slight nausea makes a final addition to the exhausted feeling. After reaching the top we continue downhill on the other side reaching the lowest point of the trail only to make a similar return back again.

Fascinated by the new science of epigenetics I have done an experiment on myself lately. For a year I have been running only in a catabolic state, which means no less than 6 hours after the last meal. The last meal never exceeds 15% of energy derived from glucose. In this way I deprive myself of the glucogen stores over several weeks. As a result I must fuel my muscles with fatty acids during a run. Theoretically such stress to the metabolic entities in the cells will lead to both intracellular and extracellular adaptations. Many of which are epigentically changes in gene expression following by transcriptions. Both enzyme production, number and size of mitochondria and increased blood supply in my fatty tissue are controlled by genes and can be changed through this adaptations.

Now, back to my run today. Reaching the top this year with the usual ache in my legs, but without the blurred vision, the dizziness and nausea. Downhill on the other side seemed a little odd as I felt very light in my body. Returning for the top the second time I felt surprisingly at ease. Descending the final downhill was «euphoric» experience. For the first time in years I had improved on this sadistic run. Noramlly I would be stiff and painful arriving home unable to walk normally, but today my vivid mind decided on another run with the other pair of wolfdogs. We jogged an easy trail singing joyfully at the same time. No pains, no exhaustion and a very happy psyche!

During this recovery run my mind also started to run with thoughts on epigenetic changes in our wolfdogs. One of my wolfdog litters produced 2 pups with inferior screeing results for dysplastic hips. However both parents and all four grandparents had excellent hips. Many disease processes beleived to be of genetic origin are now seen in the light of epigenetics. Epigenetic mechanisms that alter gene expression without affecting DNA sequence are now recognized as being of great importance in our understanding of disease susceptibility. Methylation of DNA, modification of histones, and interfering microRNA collectively represents a cadre of epigenetic elements dysregulated in chronic diseases. This is specially true in polygenetically controlled processes such as hip dysplasia in dogs. What can affect the development of a wolfdogs hips during its development? The wolf was developed for running in the forests and wilderness. Not at all on a paved road. The wolf was developed to thrive on nourishment like prey animals with food frequency like once every 3d day! What happens when a wolfdog puppy deprived of enough natural exercise in rough terrain and instead is walked on a lead on a paved road? Consider the importance of stress and the reaction to stress as a stimuli for full growth. The scientific publication «Nature» publised a review on a research on the ability to metabolize starch in either dogs and wolves. The research concludes that one of the genetically adaptations the domestic dogs have developed is its ability to digest and metabolize starch. On the contrary the wolf lack the enzymes necessary to utilize this food source. Can we then expect to be safe with feeding our dogs of recent wolfblood commercial dogfood consisting of a huge percentage of starch ? And again; how does this affect the development of the tissues around the dogs hips? We know that in humans the improper digestion of certain carbohydrates can leads to inflammation and systemic diseases. Maybe we must search for more than genes and breeding in our approach to prevent such ailments as dysplastic hips in our dogs. 

All Seasons Canicross

SNOWSHOEING

The art of living implies some plasticity of attitude.  Disadvantages can be twisted and turned and changed into a pleasant advantage.  Like having wolfdogs who on one hand completely restricts your freedom to take your walks or runs in populated areas, but on the other hand opens up a completely new world because you have to find secluded areas to sport with them.  Like snowshoeing this pristine landscape. This trip had not been possible without the initiative of the owners of another Nordenden-wolfdog who have learned the same lesson.

Sunrise & Sunset at Hardangervidda

At 4 a.m in the early morning, Nia (in full heat and in need of a whole day separated from her pack) and I took off by car heading for Hardangervidda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardangervidda_National_Park) for a full day outdoor adventure.
We arrived our destination just before dawn and commenced the ski- and paw-run in a dusky, deep violet hue with stars above.  No clouds and 23 centigrades below zero gave a fresh start.  Gradually the colors changed into blue with a very sharp horizon.  Then white mountains emerged with an orange-red zone generating in the east anticipating the rising sun.

We took the first brake at sunrise.  Nia immediately curled on the ground to keep warm and getting some rest.  Wolfdogs never waste their energy expenditure!  The pristine landscape at this part of Hardangervidda is feminine in the way that its seducing beauty can change all of a sudden becoming a fierce blizzard.  We were lucky however.  The weather stayed calm, cold and without a trace of clouds on a crisp clear blue sky the rest of the day.  On our way back the sun set as spectuacular and beautiful as the sunrise had done earlier this day approx. half an hour before getting back to the car.

Spikes or no spikes

Studless soles was a huge disappointment. Already on my second run I slipped and lost grip.  I fell face down and intimately upon the ground. After this experience I purchased a new pair of orienteering shoes from VJ Sport in Finland. Rough wear is needed. 18 metal spikes in each sole provide the necessary grip for all conditions - wet, dry, snow or ice.  

Shy Varg
Thanks to my cross-contry running, dogs like Varg (on the picture), who unfortunately didnt get the socialization needed to be among strangers, can live a happy and active life running on places people usually never occur.

Studless shoes - a new experience

For the first time in years I have decided to try a pair of studless shoes with a sticky rubber sole. Years of canicross running with total confidence in the excellent grip the metal studs have given me makes it difficult to reconsider those soles. However I will give the soft sticky rubber a chanse this time. Canicross on bad trails or even outside any is a demanding sport. Especially it challanges your balance and coordination. It is nevertheless, the best way to give your wolfdogs proper exercise. Wolfdogs are lazy animals and without early stimulii for running, they will hardly develop their physical potential fully. At approx. 3 months old they should start to trot along with the older dogs outside in rough terrain. A restricted walk ("walk") on the leash along a road is the most detrimental physical activity for a young wolfdog during its physical development. A free and fast trot is the natural way of locomotion for a wolfdog when moving on a distance. The walk is only for short distance relocation around the den or atthe resting site. Large dogs that have been mostly walked along a road on a leash develop what I would call a " Gressus Vaccinus " better adopted for a cow. Observe their hips and you will understand.

Heil dir licht - heil dir sonne!

Spring is back with its light and sunshine. During this spring-walk in what gives the impression of being a "wagnerian" mythical landscape; music from "Der Ring des Nibelungen" comes like a deja vue to my mind and stays there for the rest of my walk. Heil dir licht - heil dir sonne!