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Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships
The course itself spans the Ka’iwi Channel, which translates to “the channel of bones.” As the name suggests, it’s no lap pool. With gale-force winds and massive ocean swells, it’s known for being treacherous and intense. In adverse conditions, it’s borderline unnavigable. Needless to say, M2O is not for novices. A 100-mile endurance run sounds tough enough as is. Add more than 60,000 feet of elevation change, and you have a recipe for one of the toughest races in the world. That’s exactly what the Hardrock 100 offers competitors each summer. Racers have 48 hours to complete the course, with various resting points along the way. Beginning and ending in Silverton, Colorado, the closed course passes through mountains, rivers, and everything in between. As if that wasn’t enough, there are also frequent elk and mountain lion sightings. Oh, and thunderstorms are Hardrock 100-Mile Endurance Run
so common that participants have been struck by lightning on numerous occasions! Conditions can change at a moment’s notice, so runners are given updates and warnings about when to simply get off the course and wait for a storm to pass. Perhaps no race combines the majestic beauty of nature with the challenge of endurance running quite like the Hardrock 100. Luckily, there are 14 aid stations throughout the course where runners can stop, warm up, rest, and replenish. Without them, we’d venture to say that the Hardrock 100 would be more aptly named the Hardrock Impossible. These are just three of the many ways fitness junkies can take their passion to its absolute apex. Of course, you shouldn’t enter these events or others like them without plenty of preparation. That being said, for many people, challenges like these are what make the hours spent in the gym pay off in spades.
For many people, paddleboarding is a relaxing way to spend a summer afternoon. The brave souls who sign up for the Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O) aren’t looking for leisure, though; they are testing themselves in choppy waters over a course 32 miles long. In fact, the M2O is so dangerous that every participant has a boat nearby in case they fall in rough waters or get too tired to continue. While the race started in 1996, it has its roots in the ancient cultures of the Hawaiian Islands. Polynesian people, the first migrants to Hawaii, often paddled their way from island to island in search of a place to settle. It’s with this spirit in mind that M2O was created. It didn’t take long to become extremely popular. Each year, entrants sign up to compete either individually or in groups in both stand-up and prone divisions.
Become a ‘DogWhisperer’ Train as a Pack for Better Results
Affection
Your whole family adores your dog — but not the barking. This issue can lead to feelings of frustration, and the more frustrated you get, the more your dog barks. It’s their only way of communicating, and they’re telling you, “My needs are not being met.” As Cesar Millan, the original “dog whisperer,” explains, “A barking dog needs exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order.”
to your child’s chore list and help get out some of the kid’s pent-up energy, too. It may also be beneficial to practice obedience exercises and games that challenge your dog.
Of course, your dog needs love and attention to thrive — a lack of it could contribute to barking behavior. Reinforce silence by giving your dog a treat and an encouraging pat when she demonstrates good behavior, like not barking. “Our pups want to work for our attention,” Cesar Millan reminds us. “Allowing her to do that and to see your happiness is, to your dog, the biggest reward of all.” To make your training program successful, consistency is key. Enlist the help of the whole family to stick to the principles. Together, you can foster a calm, peaceful home where you and your dog happily coexist.
Discipline
To put a stop to the behavior, you’ll first need to change any of your behavior that’s reinforcing it. Any attention your dog gets when he’s barking — even yelling, “Rover, stop!”— teaches him to keep going, because you’re rewarding him with attention. Wait until your dog has stopped barking to give him any sort of attention, including looking at them. “To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking,” advises the Humane Society.
Exercise
Part of the barking issue may be due to pent-up energy. According to the humane society, “A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration.” If you already take your pup on a morning walk, try adding in an evening walk. You could add it
2 • FoothillsPTMaine.com
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