If there’s one thing Mabel loves, it’s running full speed toward her mama. So when I saw the theme Front Runner, I knew she was the perfect fit. What could go wrong, right? (Famous last words.)

Our first attempt was in a grassy area that looked great in person but turned into a weird mix of colors and shadows on camera. Back to the drawing board. Then I spotted this fun teal wall that practically shouted “use me!” and decided we’d try again.

It all started out beautifully. Mabel was in full Fast CAT mode, sprinting toward me with her goofy ears flying and a face full of joy. She gave me everything I’d hoped for, determination, power, and plenty of hilarious outtakes. I just love how much she throws herself into things.

When we got home, though, I noticed she was limping. My stomach dropped. Somewhere along the way, she’d nicked her paw on something in the parking lot. Cue instant mom guilt. Thankfully, it was just a small cut and nothing serious. A quick clean-up, a few snuggles, and she was back to her happy self in no time. Still, it was a good reminder to always check your pets’ paws after a fun day out, even short runs can come with hidden surprises.

After she healed, we went out for one final attempt at the challenge, just to be sure. She was excited to run again and back to her usual, full of energy self. But when I compared the images later, I realized my heart was still with one from the second shoot, the light at that time was just dreamy, the motion, and that perfect Mabel expression. That’s the one I entered.

I have a whole gallery full of her hilarious, determined, wind-in-her-fur expressions, but in the end, I went with a clean, focused shot that showed her strength and spirit. Catching her eyes in focus while she’s flying toward me, that’s a sport of its own.

This challenge made me realize how much I love capturing motion, that mix of energy, emotion, and connection. And as always, Mabel gave her whole heart to it. A scraped paw, a few treats, and another memory added to our growing adventure scrapbook.

You can see all of the Front Runner Top 10 winners here:
👉 https://www.unleashed.education/blog/embark-2025-front-runner-top-10

— Erica (and Mabel, the fastest fluff in the Black Hills)