Every March Dysmal Nitch hosts, ‘The Big Run’ and although it mostly caters to people from Portland and Seattle who enjoy the country setting our own trailer park hero Josie has been spotted running / training with her cat Ruffles in a jogging trolly on the winding trails around the park.
The jogging stroller-trolly also holds snacks, water, and cat treats in the back as well as protective mace for any curious dogs, which Josie says has not happened so far. Training is going well although where tree roots have pushed up the trail into ridges slows her down, as Ruffles the cat doesn’t like to be jostled.
Josie says that sometimes Ruffles sleeps but often watches the world go by through the mesh of the stroller. If it rains she puts on a protective tarp. Josie says Ruffles enjoys music so sometimes she puts a speaker in the back of the stroller when she runs but Ruffles only listens to ABBA or classical – “it’s not always my first choice when running, but Ruffles is a diva and she makes the rules.” The large fluffy calico is Norwegian Forest cat mix adopted from the animal shelter four years ago.
We asked Josie if Ruffles would be running the race with her this year and she says that although she would love for Ruffles to be there, that it would be overstimulating and scary for her princess. You may have also seen Ruffles in the Dysmal Nitch online pet show competition where she placed first in the majestic category.
Illustrations from my doodles and photographs processed by Gemini AI
