Tanya suffers a serious injury and is unable to take McDougall and his team to the World Championship. McDougall knows he, Mika, and Zeke would be unable to transport Sherman, Matilda, and Flower to the race themselves. Putting the matter aside for the moment, McDougall reaches out to Eric Orton—the man who originally introduced him to running—to develop a personal training regimen for the race.

McDougall then discusses the fact that burro racing victories are not limited to men. He relates the stories of Lynzi Doke and Barb Dolan, both successful female burro racers. Barb represents the older generation who fought for the right to run, while Lynzi, who is still in high school, stands for the incoming generation.

Eric suggests an intensive training regimen to prepare for the World Championship. The team undergoes the dreaded 30-second sprints, and McDougall feels the reawakening of his body and its proper form.

Using the hills in the maze to train forces, the team adjust their pace together. While on a run, McDougall realizes that Flower, like Sherman, is excited by dirt roads, and sees how he can use this to their advantage. As McDougall continues to train with his team, he notices Zeke and Sherman growing close, with Zeke coming over even on break days to spend time in the pasture with Sherman.