Clover, née Peanut, joined my family back around 1996. She’s always been a family dog, but the two of us bonded by exploring the outdoors together. I used to bring her mountain biking. She’d run for hours, mostly off trail, in great circles around me. Eventually she’d tucker out and just follow me, and we nearly always finished together.

We got Clover from a farm in Pepperell, Mass., as soon as she was weened. I brought her out cross country skiing for the first time when she was still a wee pup. A few years later, Clover ran off while we skiing along the snowmobile trails around Dunklee Pond in Hollis (access from the Silver Lake parking lot on Route 122, or off nearby Pound Road). She left me to wander the woods for over an hour, hollering myself hoarse, while she mooched a spot by someone’s woodstove. That little lesson led me to discover the sport of skijoring. Clover took to it instinctively and enthusiastically. Towing me didn’t seem to dampen her running one bit. For the first couple miles of every outing, I’d just crouch and fly. She learned quickly to turn left or right at my command, but we never did completely master stopping. I recommend skijoring to anyone who has skis and a dog.

Clover’s pretty old and arthritic now, so I try to keep her runs under 10 miles. She likes to go longer, but it leaves her stiff and in need of a big meal and long sleep. We have that in common, actually.Much as I enjoy Clover’s company, I’m always glad to leave her home. Holding a leash while running creates all sorts of strain and imbalance… for both of us. It’s an ongoing tug o’ war. It’s a drag being able to swing just one arm at a time, and I could do without the frequent stops to sniff out the latest doggie pee-mail. I try to be good about picking up after Clover, but I admit that a bag of fresh dog poop is not my favorite fashion accessory. Chicks dig it, though. “Now there goes a considerate, responsible dog owner. That’s so hot.”

I used to use my skijor belt when we ran, so as to keep my arms free, but I found the pulling strained my back (I wasn’t using the skijor lead, which has a built-in bungee cord, because it’s too long). It turns out, that’s a whole sport unto itself.

When I can get away with it, I like to let Clover run unrestrained. She seems to like it better, too.