{"id":922,"date":"2026-06-16T10:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T08:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/16\/my-ultra-training-partner-connor\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T21:41:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T19:41:24","slug":"my-ultra-training-partner-connor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/16\/my-ultra-training-partner-connor\/","title":{"rendered":"My Ultra Training Partner: Connor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Behind every long, grueling mile of training, there is a source of pure, unadulterated joy keeping me moving. For me, that is my German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP), Connor.<br><br>As I push my limits and log the heavy mileage required for my upcoming trail races, Connor is right there by my side. He isn&#8217;t just a pet; he is truly the best running partner I could ever ask for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br>His boundless energy matches my drive, and his enthusiasm turns even the most exhausting training sessions into an absolute adventure.<br><br>Looking at these moments captured, you can see exactly how much love and happiness he brings into my life. Whether we are tearing up the trails or sharing a quiet moment of appreciation post-run, he makes the journey infinitely better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Behind every long, grueling mile of training, there is a source of pure, unadulterated joy keeping me moving. For me, that is my German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP), Connor. As I push my limits and log the heavy mileage required for my upcoming trail races, Connor is right there by my side. He isn&#8217;t just a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[174],"class_list":["post-922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-our-pets","tag-trailrunningbuddy-gspcommunity-germanshorthairedpointer-runningwithdogs-ultratrainingpartner"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":732,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/08\/running-through-seasons-a-familys-journey-of-trails-triumphs-and-togetherness\/","url_meta":{"origin":922,"position":0},"title":"Running Through Seasons: A Family\u2019s Journey of Trails, Triumphs, and Togetherness","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"8 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Red Barn greeted us this morning with a tapestry of green, its trails softened by the recent rains and lined with wildflowers that seemed to cheer us on. 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Yet the boredom refused to leave.Eventually, I changed into my running gear, laced up my Kiprun Cushion 500s\u2014still my favourite running shoes\u2014and headed out with Connor.About 1km into the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Road&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Road","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/10km-arc-road-race\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/dji_export_photo_20260620160527145.png?fit=768%2C432&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/dji_export_photo_20260620160527145.png?fit=768%2C432&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/dji_export_photo_20260620160527145.png?fit=768%2C432&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/dji_export_photo_20260620160527145.png?fit=768%2C432&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":664,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/01\/flowers-mud-and-victory\/","url_meta":{"origin":922,"position":2},"title":"Flowers, Mud, and Victory!","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"1 March 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"What a day at Prime View! The streams were irresistible\u2014our dogs dove in every chance they got, splashing with pure happiness. The road was lined with bursts of color: fiery orange blossoms, deep and light purple petals, crisp whites, and bold reds, all swaying gently as the trees whispered in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Trail&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Trail","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/trail-running\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dji_export_photo_20260301193129393-1.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dji_export_photo_20260301193129393-1.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dji_export_photo_20260301193129393-1.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/25\/trail-run-grootfontein-bike-park\/","url_meta":{"origin":922,"position":3},"title":"Trail Run @ Grootfontein Bike Park","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"25 January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, I went for a 15km Trail Run at Grootfontein Bike Park with my dog, Connor, a German Shorthaired Pointer. As fun as it was, we arrived around 07h40 and started running at 08h00. About 3km in, my stomach felt a bit weird, but I didn't think much of it.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Trail&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Trail","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/trail-running\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":897,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/27\/my-body-pauses-my-spirit-doesnt\/","url_meta":{"origin":922,"position":4},"title":"My Body Pauses, My Spirit Doesn\u2019t","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"27 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I woke up with my legs paralysed again. That familiar fear crept in\u2014but so did something stronger: determination. As the feeling slowly returned, I stretched, breathed through it, and made a decision\u2026 I was going to run.Connor, my usual partner in crime, is recovering after surgery, and my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;My life with FND&quot;","block_context":{"text":"My life with FND","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/my-life-with-fnd\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_20260426_161105_284.webp?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_20260426_161105_284.webp?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_20260426_161105_284.webp?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":901,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/02\/chasing-trails-tails-tenacity-a-rainy-race-day-to-remember\/","url_meta":{"origin":922,"position":5},"title":"Chasing Trails, Tails &amp; Tenacity: A Rainy Race Day to Remember","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"2 May 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The morning began with doubt\u2014rain tapping against the windows, a cold chill in the air, and the quiet thought that maybe the race wouldn\u2019t happen at all. But 45 minutes later, everything changed. The skies cleared, the breeze softened, and at Grootfontein Bike Park stood two very excited German Shorthaired\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Trail&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Trail","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/trail-running\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-20260501-wa00101460032414418336007.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-20260501-wa00101460032414418336007.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-20260501-wa00101460032414418336007.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-20260501-wa00101460032414418336007.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-20260501-wa00101460032414418336007.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img-20260501-wa00101460032414418336007.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph3bPZ-eS","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20260616_102634.jpg?fit=432%2C768&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=922"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/922\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":929,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/922\/revisions\/929"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}