Attendees really got into the "spirit" of the event at last year's Monster Dash 5K-9.

By Meredeth Barzen

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Halloween with your dog? Team Ortho is holding its annual “Monster Dash” 5K-9 on the spookiest day of the year—this Saturday, October 31.

The 5K-9 is the dog- and costume-friendly (for people and their pets!) portion of the Monster Dash race, which also includes a half-marathon, a 10-mile race and a regular 5K race—more than 7,000 runners are expected to participate this year. The 5K-9 will take place around Lake Harriet, and for your noble exercising efforts, you’ll receive a long-sleeved tech shirt and a collar or leash from the event’s sponsor, Stunt Puppy. Sidewalk Dog will be enjoying the festivities from Stunt Puppy’s tent. Plus, Fetch Delivers will be there to refuel your dog with treats and free one-pound sample bags of Go! Natural Grain Free Endurance dog food (great for active dogs) and to hand out coupons for any food in the the Now!/Go! lines, which can be redeemed at any retailer. ScoopyPoo will take care of anything your dog—ahem—leaves behind, Bits of Love Pet Massage will be providing mini-massages for your four-legged athletes and Pampered Pooch Playground will be on hand to simply love up all the pups.

Registration is $47 for one adult and one dog. If you haven’t pre-registered, registration for the 5K-9 opens at 8:45 a.m. Saturday morning, and the race starts at 10:35 at the Lake Harriet Bandshell.

There will be three water/trick-or-treat stops along the way, and remember: There’s no shame in walking if you get tired—you can always blame it on your dog.

Here’s some important info from the pooch lovin’ people behind the race:

1. Race Guide: The entire guide can now be downloaded at www.teamortho.us. In the guide, you will find detailed schedules and start locations for runners, information on parking, great suggestions for spectators and where you can pick up awards for running and costumes. We encourage you to read this document.

2. Packet Pickup is Friday, October 30 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Please note that packet pickup has moved from Marathon Sports to the Minneapolis Convention Center. Time for packet pickup: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. in Ballroom B. Please bring a valid ID and your confirmation card. If you didn’t receive a confirmation card yet, never fear; come to packet pickup with your photo ID and we’ll get your bib number for you. Note: There will be no packet pickup on race day for the Half Marathon and the 10 Mile.

3. Registration is still open for the 5K-9: Online registration (highly encouraged!) shuts down Wednesday night. You can register at packet pickup on Friday or on race day; registration fee will be $47.

Gear up for cold weather.

By Meredeth Barzen

It’s that time of year, when we all wave farewell to one of the more pleasant autumns in memory and turn to confront another winter head-on. For some, this gradual movement toward the bottom of the thermometer is when Fido’s first and last walks of the day are no longer described as “invigorating,” but instead make the move into “numbing” or “as-short-as-possible” territory. Not so for those savvy readers who know about these dog-friendly places who have the gear they need to protect themselves and their puppy pals from the elements, however.

Jan Guenther, the owner of dog-friendly Gear West in Long Lake, stresses the importance of smart preparation: “Dressing for humans is all about layering, especially wicking materials,” she says. “If you’re doing something with your dog that makes you perspire, like running, your first layer needs to wick moisture away from your skin.”

Dog-friendly Midwest Mountaineering located in Dinkytown in Minneapolis.

At Midwest Mountaineering in Dinkytown, the cashiers hand out dog treats like candy as Jewels, the shop dog, surveys her terrain. Her—and the store’s—owner, Rod Johnson, advises wet-weather walkers to choose “a thinner, water resistant material” as an outer layer, and suggests “soft and warm merino wool” as a no-fail inner- or mid-layer for any type of cold weather. “Its longer thinner filaments are not scratchy, are machine washable and don’t retain odors,” he says.

Marathon Sports in south Minneapolis can help you keep your feet from freezing with Mizuno Breathe Thermo socks—which heat up—as well as YakTrax, which slip over your shoes or boots to give you better grip on ice and snow. General manager Corey Swan points out that the store welcomes dogs, with lots of room to roam and water bowls scattered about.

Shop Dog Tulear models packs at 45 Degrees in Stillwater.

45 Degrees in Stillwater, MN offers plenty of cold-weather gear for people and pups. Melissa, a manager and self-proclaimed “shop-dog wrangler” splits her time between taking care of Tulear, the shop’s Hungarian Vizsla and providing a font of information on booties, jackets, leashes, collars and packs that are available to aid cold-weather walks (the shop carries many options for keeping owners warm and happy as well.)

Now that you’re prepared, there’s no excuse for letting the weather keep you and your four-legged loved ones from enjoying winter’s underrated appeal.