Last weekend, my family headed out to the Laurel Highlands in anticipation of the "big blizzard." After an hour and a half in the cramped front of a pickup truck, with our legs wound around grocery bags and dog beds, we all needed a little exercise.

I had packed my cross country skis and looked forward to kicking and gliding through mountain laurel and hemlocks on Spruce Run Trail.

But there was a problem: I was a day early for the anticipated snowstorm. Most of the ski trails were impassable patches of beaten-down snow threading between rocks and branches.

Those are lousy conditions for skiing, but great for a winter trail run. I pulled on my shoes, then slipped a fleece jacket onto one of my running partners. My two dogs already paced and jumped at the door. When I opened it, they bolted like greyhounds out of the gate.

Near my home, my dogs are great trail running partners. They know all of the routes and wait patiently at each intersection for my direction before running on. I wasn't sure how they would react to new territory.

We started on a main snowmobile trail, packed and groomed but slightly gravelly in the sparse snow cover. True to form, Cheetos and Jackie sprinted the first 100 meters up the trail. I panted behind, trying to loosen up in the cold.

The dogs surged forward, running side by side and jealously guarding the lead position. I ran behind like a musher on an invisible sled. My team was a laughable and unlikely pair — a lanky, loping cocker spaniel and a delicate papillon in a blue and gold fleece coat.

Even though their four legs could outrun my two, the dogs looked to me for leadership. They disappeared at a sure-footed trot over the rise of the hill. But when I slipped and slid over the crest, I saw them patiently waiting on the other side.

I spied the yellow blazes of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail marking the untracked route through the mountain laurel. At first my partners balked at running zigzag through the forest. But after a few minutes of following in my footsteps, they lost patience with my slow pace and passed me.

Cheetos led the way, breaking a trail with his oven-mitt-sized cocker spaniel paws. Jackie hopped delicately from print to print. I followed, carefully brushing aside wayward brambles that grabbed at my waist as I picked my way around boulders and over fallen branches.

As I watched the dogs running ahead, I thought of how much our little pack resembled a group of human running partners, each with strengths and weaknesses. Cheetos ran on pure youthful exuberance, occasionally slipping and tumbling over rocks, legs and long ears flying. Once in a while, he veered wildly off the main trail and had to be called back.

Jackie ran in total control, lightly picking her way over the rocks, pausing before hopping over logs. Not wanting to get her feet wet, she waited at the edge of each icy stream for me to ferry her across.

And I was the big clunky running partner with weak ankles panting to keep pace. But like any pack of running friends, we stuck together, sharing the trail and enjoying the company on the run.

When a curl of blue smoke from our cabin's woodstove appeared through the trees, Cheetos recognized home and bolted for the door. Jackie stopped, sat down in the middle of the trail and demanded to be carried the remaining distance. I was happy to walk the rest of the way as a cool down.

Then, just like good friends after a run, we all enjoyed a post-run drink and snack in the warmth of the cabin. Snow began to fall lightly past the window as all of the tired dogs snuggled into the recliner for a warm afternoon nap.

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Up-N-Running group run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 9:15 a.m.: West End Chili Bowl Classic 5K, Westlake, Ohio. 216-623-9933 or www.hermescleveland.comSaturday, 11 a.m.: Frostbite Five, Grove City. Five-mile run, part of Runner's High Winter Marathon. 724-458-4435 or www.runhigh.comMarch 18, 9:30 a.m.: Chambersburg Half Marathon, Chambersburg. 301-739-1366 or http://chambersburgrrc.orgSend comments and suggestions: to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email: bigp@highstream.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.