Tom Ehlen

Date of birth: 04-08-1983

Residence: Nieuwstadt

What do you love about sports with dogs?

Speed, in the broadest sense of the word, has always had my attention. Canoeing allows me to experience a running speed that I would not be able to experience without a dog. By going hiking and running with Loki, my brother’s dog, in 2017 while googling for a harness, I discovered canicrosing by accident. The combination between running and getting out into nature with your buddy has captured my heart ever since!

What breed of dog(s) do you have and what is/are their name(s)?

As of November 13, 2019, Lisa and I are proud owners of Tobi, our first dog! Tobi is a European sled dog, a cross between Greyster Pinna and Hound Marco.

What sports do you play?

Besides canoeing, I do performance running and strength training for my overall fitness and injury prevention. Every now and then I participate in a sprint triathlon and I like to jump on the road bike as recovery training or just when the weather is nice and I want to get into the Limburg hills.

How long have you been active in this sport(s)?

I have been doing canicross with Loki since September 2017 and then immediately signed up for the NK in Helden. Just jumping into the deep end, right? Then I contacted Canicross-Limburg Zuid, where I met Lars and Mieke, among others. During 2018, I received the trust of Lars and Mieke to be allowed to canicross with Luna, their Labmaraner. With Luna I have since experienced many wonderful adventures and managed to win the necessary prizes. Without Luna I would never have reached where I am today. For this I am eternally grateful to Lars, Mieke and of course Luna! I have also learned a lot from all the other members of Canicross Limburg-Zuid and Canicross Nederland; all great people!

Running I picked up after quitting soccer about 12 years ago. After stopping with this for about 5 years as well, I resumed it in 2017 thanks to Loki. Together with my coach Michel van de Wall, I made a plan and, thanks to his trainings, ran my PR on the 5km in 15:30 in 2023! This as an essential condition to compete with Tobi at the international canicross level.

Which part do you prefer and why?

Definitely canicross! Besides the performance element, adrenaline and speed, the sport with dog and meeting all animal friends and their faithful four-legged friends again and again is one big party!

What are your goals for the future in this sport(s)?

In 2019, I set the ultimate goal of achieving a World Championship medal with Tobi in the Masters-I (40-49 years old) category in 2023, the year I would turn 40. How fantastically beautiful then to even achieve GOLD; the epitome of pay after work, right! In 2024 we almost managed to repeat this at Bardonecchia, in the end a silver medal, with the fastest time of the weekend in my category on day 2. So this definitely feels like silver with a Gold edge! Our canicross goal has already been achieved with the gold medal; for now, we will continue to be fanatical about this beautiful sport!

What is your greatest sports moment to date?

Yes that is definitely our gold medal at the ICF World Canicross Championship at Leipa in 2023! To be able to deliver this with Tobi, with his only 28 kilo a small dog between the >34 kilo big, powerful Greysters and ESD’s, is a dream come true! We have trained very hard for 4 years, fought like lions and when Tobi can hunt he just keeps going! Wow!

What is the funniest or least funny sports moment to date?

I don’t have to think about that for long! During the relay of the European Canicross Championships in Belgium in 2019, I was together with Luna after a fast start in third place, slightly behind the number 1 and 2 and just in front of the number 4; the dog of the number 4 was running right next to me and while we had to go straight, decided to turn left and ran me out of my legs. Apparently the route of the Long canicross (turning left at this particular point) was still in his memory! A belly-slide with the face through the mud was the result. No time to think and with a few scrapes set off in pursuit. One learns by doing and in the future I will choose the outside at an intersection!

Can you give one tip to other canicrossers/steppers/bikers/sled dog mushers what best to do/don’t do in this sport(s)?

Invest in your own physical fitness. This will prevent injuries, improve fitness and performance, and provide a faster reaction time which is no luxury especially with the high speeds over difficult terrain! In addition, I think you owe it to your dog; again, the knife cuts both ways. Looking for better performance? So train not only your dog, but definitely yourself; “no sweat no glory”!

What is your favorite Fastdog product for your dog(s)?

Mmm tough choice…! Since hydrating and recovering Tobi is extremely important to me, I choose both Hydration Power and the Recovery Shake. Tobi finds these super tasty and always looks forward to his favorite drinks!!!