True love

So I realize this picture should have been valentine's themed but this dog and her sticks.... it's true love.  And it's also why the lightening is so bad, she chases this thing around at speeds I am not capable of capturing on film.  I had to wait a good 20 minutes until she slowed down enough for a picture.  Any tips on getting action shots?  Do I just need a different lense?

f/5.6, 1/49sec, ISO 1600, 55mm