Jen Golbeck’s Running And Recipe Tips For Dog Owners
Our June 2018 cover runner Jen Golbeck offers her tips for running with and fueling active dogs the healthy way.
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Jen Golbeck appeared on the June 2018 cover of Women’s Running. The professor of computer science is an active runner, a dog mom to five Golden Retrievers and the manager of TheGoldenRatio4 social media channels, a platform on which she shares dog-friendly recipes and tips for active dog owners. Below, she shares the guidelines she uses for running with her dogs (named Hopper, Venkman, Maggie, Jasmine and Queso) and three of her go-to recipes.
Fueling And Running With Your Active Pups
When I get ready for a run, I weigh how far I want to go and how much the girls are up for. My favorite run is 3 miles with Hopper, with a stop in Rock Creek Park for a little swim break, then 2 miles with Venkman, 1 mile each with seniors Maggie and Jasmine and a cooldown walk with our oldest dog, Queso.
Venkman has a lot of orthopedic issues and is in the middle of an aggressive weight loss program. The runs are great for her, but if she is sore or limping, we’ll opt for a gentle walk. To help drop the pounds, we’ve reduced her kibble and added broccoli or green beans to her meals to fill her up (this works for humans, too).
Roasted Carrots
Carrots are a favorite of humans and dogs in the house. We roast them for the older dogs who have worn-down teeth, and they are delish!
Preheat your oven to 425. Take some carrots—any size works—and give them a light coating of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and roast them until you can poke a fork through them. Dogs love them like this! For humans, add a squeeze of lemon juice and rub a little dried oregano in your hands and sprinkle it over them for a great side dish.
Queso Recipe
In honor of our dog Queso, here’s our queso recipe, which will make you a hit at parties:
In a pot over medium heat, combine 1 pound of American cheese cut into chunks, 1 drained can of Rotel tomatoes and chilies and 1 cup of beer (someone will need to finish the rest of that beer…). Stir it frequently until it’s smooth. It’s great with chips or over your favorite Mexican dish.
Weekend Waffles
For a treat, we make waffles on the weekend. The girls all share a waffle, and we use the same recipe for them as we do for ourselves. Take 2 cups of flour, 2 cups of milk or water, 2 eggs, 4 teaspoons of baking powder and a little cinnamon, vanilla and honey for flavor. Mix it until it’s smooth and bake in your waffle iron.
Related:
Sneak Peek: Our June 2018 Travel Issue