Get out and Mush!

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 131, December 31, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

2 feet of snow in Arizona, 4 inches of rain in Minnesota, giant floods in Australia, tornado in Arkansas, 100 car pileup in Fargo.........a friend has a flesh eating disease, mom got a concussion and now a very close and dear relative has cancer. That was the news I got today...... before noon.

Some have wondered why I am doing this Beargrease race. As I have said before, there are numerous reasons. But if you were to add up all of the reasons and put them in a bag, it would be a bag full of..... life. Life is the reason. ....Living, experiencing, exploring the unknown, challenging myself, meeting people, loving animals, learning, ....Living. There is so much crap happening in and to our world right now that it seems out of control. Blame the weather on global warming, blame the kids attention span on video games, blame the cancer on food and water..... our lives are speeding by like a vicious storm only for us to get older and wonder, "where did the time go?"

HOW DO WE SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY IT? For me, mushing dogs slows life down to its simplest form. A physical task of hooking up dogs to a sled and then having them pull you through the snow is an easy way to hold onto a "natural" thing life has to offer. No TV, computer, cell phone, facebook, ipod, itouch, 3G, 4G, on demand movies, DVR, DVD, CD, GPS, text, twitter, blogs or emails. Stetson once told me about a "vision of clarity" he gets when he is behind a dog team for hours on end, helping your mind go free and remebering things like who you sat next to in 3rd grade or remebering playing with army men with your brothers in the back yard sand box.

"Today, burn your special candles, use your best sheets and wear your best shirt because TODAY is special". In other words, don't wait for tomorrow to do something special, do it today; tomorrow is not guaranteed. For me right now it's Get out and Mush......and live life.

It's Go Time!!!

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 124, December 24, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Life seems to keep getting in the way of training. We need to be hard at it right now but life is very busy. The hard part about dog mushing is that it is such a short racing season, then it's over. Dec to March and it's done. If you are on the circuit you are spending every waking minute training the team. I have run into many reasons to NOT train: hunting season, no wheeler, work, injury to myself, warm weather, now .....Christmas. I'm calling bullshit from here on out! No more excuses. I am looking forward to 40 days of hell in which I will lose 12 more lbs and get my body back (hamstring and shoulder issues). Most important though is to make sure the dogs are in marathon shape. These dogs are priority #1 and to get their speed and confidence up with good runs. It's about split times and speed. I recieved a Garmin watch from my wife to tell the split times and mph with ease. It's go time!

The People That Support

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 105, December 15, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

My Sponsors: Stewart Taylor Printing, Jack Links Beef Jerky, Polaris, The Edge Pilates Studio, Anytime Fitness, Premier Companies, North Shore Oil, Black Woods Grill and Bar, Out There Advertising, A&L Properties and Ledingham Promotional.

I have been lucky to have these companies support my desire to run these dogs. These great sponsors have enthustically helped out. There is one person in my life that you would think would be concerned or not too happy about the time spent training.....my wife Moira. She has been extremely supportive to the point that I thinks she wants me out of the house! She is a great mother to our 3 sons (Shown here with my youngest, Ben) and has been a blessing to me. Her support for this mid-life event has actually brought us closer together. How did I ever end up with someone that is so kind and supportive? I am having a great experience, but a lot of that has to do with her encouraging me to go run the dogs. She never makes me feel like I am putting extra stress on the household when I am gone for 4-5 hours 3 days a week, usually every weekend. The time committment for this sport is through the roof. To do it right, you need to be out there 6 days out of 7. This sport is as demanding as any sport I have been involved in. These dogs need attention, food, water and medical care every day, 365 days a year. It seems to be a lifestyle you have a hard time letting go.......but you enjoy your animals, your dogs, your kids. They truly become like family to you after a very short period of time. Living with a dog yard full of dogs is rewarding when you are running them through a snow covered trail at 13 mph.... other than that, it is all work. That is why you need support from either your spouse or handlers that you can count on. For my little experience, I am able to enjoy it because of the encouragement and support I get from my partner at home. Thanks Moi!

Rugged North Shore Trail

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 100, December 10, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

I've heard stories of how rugged the North Shore Trail is, but until you have been on it, you don't understand how intense it can be. We took the dogs on a 30 miler through the hills of the Normana trail and turned around where we have been training off the Fox Farm road. The 8 miles of the Normana trail that we added are unbelieveable! The hills are intense and much tougher than I would have imagined. I have been running some hills for training and needed every bit of that training to get through this short run. I got off the sled a few times, not for any other reason than sparing the dogs. I couldn't believe some of the hills that they climb....over and over. I looked at a couple of the hills and they reminded me of looking at a tidal wave. I wondered "How the hell are these dogs going to get up there?" But they pulled, without hesitation and attacked the hills, knowing their job...... never quitting. At one point we got to the top of a monster hill and when we turned a corner I saw that the hill continued up, Damn. Up we went again. But, what goes up, must come down. I got introduced to the speed that you don't want on a downhill. I couldn't brake as hard as I wanted but learned to pull up on the handelbar to create more pressure on the brake. That finally worked to slow them down to a controlled downhill speed. As soon as we were down on the bottom........ back up we went. It seemed like 20 times and this is just on a little 8 mile section! The rugged North Shore trail is exactly that..... parts of it are like a big roller coaster. It sure makes you appreciate the flats and the gradual downward slopes!

It's All About the Dogs

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 95, December 5, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Today was the best day of the 95 I have spent working, thinking and living this sport. It was good because I finally understand what this sport is; It's about the dogs. It's about connecting and understanding with each dog in your team and what that dog is doing and how that will affect him later in the run. Timing, holding them back, slowing them down, letting them run....there's a feel and a science to running dogs. I don't have that feel yet, but I do understand that it is there. I understand now that it is truly about the dogs. It is about becoming one with your team and working together to accomplish the perfect run, with the perfect speed, with a true feel of what that speed is suppose to be. Conditions of the trail, the weather, the hills....both up and down. You have to feel the run as your dogs would feel it and run them accordingly. It's about the dogs. It's not about winning or even running in a race. Take care of your dogs and you will enjoy your run.

Lost the Team......

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 86, November 26, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

John Stetson and I hooked up 2 8-dog teams and took off down the snowy ungroomed Fox Farm trail for a 15 mile loop run. He was on the racing sled and I was driving the slower "tank". The dogs were pulling as hard as I have seen them pull all year so I helped by kicking and running when I could. After a bit, I was concerned about one of my dogs needing water so I put in the snow hook (first time ever) and went up to pour some water in my hand for the dog to drink. As I was heading back to the sled, the dogs began to bark and pull. I was not too concerned because I had the snow hook in....right? They couldn't possibly pull the snow hook out, right? The snow hook is what makes them stay in one place, right? . Well, the hook popped out of the frozen ground and through the fluffy snow and off they went. I still was not deathly concerned because I still had the snub line dragging behind the slow moving "tank" and I dove for the rope, something I wanted to practice anyway. The frozen rope slid through my gloves like the slippery icecicle that it was. I yelled "Woah" several times to no avail and then ran as hard as I could, almost catching up to the rope again befor they were gone. Gone! My worst fear about mushing came true on my first real run. Dogs running down the trail with me running after them. All at once, feelings of helplessness, despair, worry, inability and stupidity rushed over me. All of the stories of the horror of losing your team were coming true right before my eyes. This is when dogs can get hurt because they will run for 30 miles without stopping. I was extremely lucky that Stetson was 3 blocks ahead of me and grabbed my team and waited for me to catch up. I think he planned for something like this. What a great learning day for me. In the truck on the way home, he told me some simple rules to follow like: never get behind your sled when you are stopped and if the team starts to take off, run ahead with the team instead of running to get behind the sled to grab on. I promised that it would not happen again, and I honestly believe that it won't....... Dear God, please never again!

Every Musher is on their own Journey

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 81, November 21, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Lance Mackey, 4 time Iditarod champion, came to Duluth this weekend to promote his book "The Lance Mackey Story". He was sponsored by Redpaw dog food and Dog Booties. This allowed me the opportunity to attend a couple events where I mingled with some mushers. What I learned was that each musher is on a journey, their own private journey with goals and aspirations to achieve something....but all different from each other. One musher's goal is to live in Alaska and run the Iditarod. Another was to run the Stage Stop in Wyoming. Another was to finish higher than she did last year in the Beargrease. One was currently out of dogs but was trying to find a way back in. One is in dogs and trying to get out. Another was happy to just be a musher. Mackey's lofty goal is to win the Iditarod for the 5th time, while my simple goal is to just be competitive in my first experience of running the half Beargrease. We're all in the same sport yet entirely different goals and journey's. I spoke with an old friend yesterday and found out that he ran dogs for 7 years! He talked with burning passion about the sport. You could tell that he had a great experience when he had the dogs but somehow, for some reason, got out. But even he had a journey in the world of mushing that left him with great memories. In my opinion, mushers are passionate about something that most people will never fully understand or have the opportunity to experience. It is hard to explain but somehow you get pulled into this sport, not from your hand, but from your heart and from the love of these incredible animals. If you let them, they will take you on a journey, your very own journey and one that will be different from every one else.

Getting in Shape at 50!

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 75, November 15, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

These are my 3 sons, Brody 17, Parker 19 and Ben 15. Hunting season is a great time for us to do something together. Our shack "Wolfpiss Lodge" is in Finland, MN on 40 acres. We are surrounded by miles of untouched beauty of the Nature Conservancy and Government land. It usually ends up being a good workout every time up there because of the nature of the place. No water or electricity and everything needs to be hauled in. As I walked for over 30 hours this deer hunting season, again getting skunked, I thought a lot about how the sport of mushing has transformed me. Physically, mentally and spiritually.....yes I said spiritually. I know it sounds wack (sorry, I have teenagers) but it has been an awakening of sorts, stirring my soul by trying something different, something new, something that has breathed life back into a 50 year old body. One main reason I am doing this is for the kids. I want them to see the old man be an athlete and for them to learn to push yourself even when it isn't pretty. This race is challenging and my goal is to be in the best shape that I can to run those hills on that trail. For training, I am running lots of hills, but lately I have been taking a pilates class. Pilates is the best overall workout there is, period. No matter how old or young you are, you deserve it to yourself to check out a class or two. There are different levels of pilates classes, but they are as easy or as hard as you want them to be. I have taken an "easy" class but found myself pushing my limits.....which made it hard. I have had "hard" classes and found myself laying off when it got too difficult, making it easier. Just read your body, you will know what you can and can't do. It just takes the effort to make it to class for a few sessions, then it all comes together. First your core becomes stronger, then everything else gets stronger and easier after that. Got tight hammies? This is a great stretching and strengthening exercise for them. The Edge Pilates Studio in Duluth is a great example of a first rate operation with professional teachers. Most Pilates classes are a bit spendier than a generic gym membership, but the benefits are multiplied. With a pilates class,you get what you pay for. Between The Edge Pilates Studio, Anytime Fitness, John Stetson, Linda Nervick and the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, I am getting in shape again at 50 years old.............my hammies and my spirit thank you!

First To Lope

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 70, November 10, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Running the dogs has taken on a new meaning to me. I am at the stage where you want to find out what speed is best for the dogs to train at. Loping is when a dog starts to run. As a musher, you don't want them running, you need them to trot at their best speed to run 35 miles. If they lope too early or too much, they will get tired and not finish strong. My "first to lope" dog is

Electron

She is young and strong, but she wants to lope all the time. It is my job to find the tempo at which she trots at a comfortable speed. In September, she loped the whole time, pulling and grinding as hard as she could for the entire run, 5 miles. You want that in a dog, determination and strength. Now that we are running 15 miles at a crack, she has finally learned to trot and sustain her pulling power throughout the entire run. She is the first to finish her food when we're done running and could eat twice as much as anyone. I think she is going to be one of the best pullers we got!

Winter, Please Get Here!

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 64, November 4, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

I have heard that the Fall Season is the hardest time to be a musher. You are on a wheeler for 3 months on wet, muddy trails. At first, I enjoyed every day and looked forward to the run. It has now become a chore...... I still enjoy it, but is demanding more time than I have to give. I need to be at this every day. We are at the stage where we have to pack 12 dogs into the truck, drive 30 minutes, run the dogs 15 miles, feed and water the dogs, pack them back up and drive back home....day after day. Plus, the trails can chew up the dogs paws so you have to watch for any signs of sore feet. Dog booties are sometimes used this time of year to protect them from rocks and hard surfaces. Ointment is applied for any cuts and the paws heal quickly because of the soft tissue. Feet are the #1 concern whether it is Fall or Winter, you have to watch for any funny looking "gate" a dog may have. All of this work lasts about 4 hours but is necessary to condition the dogs. Who has that kind of time? Real mushers find the time! It is a committment that I admire in all mushers that want to train their dogs to the best of their ability. These dogs are considered the world's best athletes, by the way they process their oxygen. They actually get stronger as they go. If you don't train them correctly, you are wasting their tremendous ability to go fairly fast for extended periods of time. We have had enough of the trails....... Winter, please get here soon!

First Snow

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 61, November 1, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Last week we got our first snowfall of the season. There wasn't much snow down by Lake Superior, but over the hill they got 5 inches. It was enough to stop us from running on our trail and enough to prohibit us from geting the dog truck on the road. The only way we were going to run the dogs was to hook up a sled and take them on the 1 mile road connected to the Stetson homestead. We only took 8 dogs for control reasons and it was perfect. We ran 4 miles in the snow and it was a great way to introduce me to the sled. Not too fast and I found myself becomming attached to the brake, which seems to be the answer to any potential problems. The road was not plowed yet so we were able to have it to ourselves for the most part. We ran accross 2 cars that were moving very slowly and we stayed way right after giving the "Gee over" command and "On by". It was good for me to see the dogs and how they reacted to other objects on "their" trail. Lead dogs Cirrus and Whisper controlled a "Gee, Haw" turn around without any problems and completed my perfect first day run on a sled. Can't wait for packed trails!

Sponsorships!

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 57 October 27, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Getting someone to sponsor you is like getting pushed uphill while riding a bike. It is still a ride but now you have partners that are helping out and it makes the journey more fun. I just got Jack Links to help out my adventure. A phone call to them 2 weeeks ago explaining that I was "Feeding My Wild Side" by mushing dogs, was enough to convince them to sponsor me with product while I train. This will go a long way as I do like beef jerky and Jack Links is the best that I have tasted. Other sponsors that have jumped on board include: Premier Companies, a local asphalt and snow removal company, Anytime Fitness, North Shore Oil and Propane, Out There Advertising, The Edge Palates Studio and Stewart Taylor Printing. They have all helped out in one way or another and I couldn't do this without them. THANK YOU SPONSORS!

I am Not a Musher Yet......

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 51 October 21, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

You are not a musher until you can handle a sled in the winter behind dogs. All I really know right now is how to harness dogs and clip them to the gangline, jump on my wheeler, give a couple voice commands and hold on. But, in the big picture, the most important lesson that I have learned is to love animals again. After putting my lab down 2 years ago I swore off being attached to "non-humans". I have changed. I even swerved to miss a cat the other day! I have new found respect for every living animal, all due to these sled dogs that I have come to appreciate. I am going to have a hard time leaving them after the race. I have learned other things like soaking food, baiting the water if a dog looks like it might be dehydrating, that scooping poop is a great time to converse with the animals, take wide turns, how to break up a dog scirmish and my favorite, reading my lead dogs.

Cirrus

is one of my lead dogs and he looks back at me when he knows it is time for a command. His look says; "What are we going to do here num-nuts?" It's amazing that, with just a look, he can communicate with me. When he gets the command, he goes, always doing the right thing. I have a lot to learn once the snow and cold hits, but with Cirrus in the lead, it will make my job easier.

Positive Energy People

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 42 October 12, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Throughout this process of learning about sled dogs and the world of mushing, I have had the opportunity to meet some special people. Everyone I have met has been open, positive and kind. The person that has led me to this point is Linda Nervick. She has been part of a group of people that basically saved the Beargrease 8 years ago when the major sponsors dissappeared. Linda's love and positive energy for this race has been a driving force for it's comeback. This year's race is already full with 80 mushers! The economic impact has got to be in the hundred of thousands of dollars for Duluth and the North Shore. Filled hotel rooms, full restaurants and full gas tanks all along the shore are evident for 4 days of the race. The check points along the trail that are not only accessible but people are encouraged to participate, which is a hidden benefit of this race compared to races like the Iditarod, where you see them at the start and finish.....and that's all. The Beargrease is becoming a Northshore Winter week of fun and excitement, thanks to the 800 volunteers, the board, and people like Linda. We are lucky to have this race here in the Northland!

Reading the Dog

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Race
Day 38 October 8, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

I have learned to watch for specific traits a dog might show when pulling. I watch for who is the first and last to start loping, what their gait looks like, if their body is square to the harness or if they are pulling to the side. Is the the tail up or down? Do they keep looking back at other dogs? Do they try to get a sip of water from a puddle every chance and are they overheating? After 38 days, I have started to see things that were not even a thought when I started. I am getting more comfortable and confident and look forward to the challenge of the sled on ice and snow. I have been running more and biking too and I feel better than I have in over 2years.

The Birds and the Bee's

Running the Mid Distance Bear Grease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 31 Oct. 1, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Breeding these dogs is a science and a business. We have a dog in heat that we want to race in the Beargrease, so keeping the boy's off of her is a full time job. There is a time for those matters with the right blood lines and at the right time of year....this was not the right time or the right match. I don't know how long it takes to concieve but as I was watering the dogs and turned my back on the team for 3 seconds, there was Rocket trying his best with Electron. I ran over and "unhitched" the 2 and I am sure I got there in time because 1 minute later, Rocket was back in action trying to finish his duty. I moved him to the back of the group and brought up Russell who had no interest in Electron and we ran smooth after that. Today's Lesson: Never turn your back on the the dogs, anything can happen!

Dog Lover!

Running the Mid Distance Bear Grease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 29 September 29, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

I love these dogs. They are nothing like I had expected. I am reading Gary Paulsons "Winter Dance" and I am amazed at the difference from the wild dogs he ran in the Iditarod compared to the veteran team that is training me. Almost every dog in my team has over 20,000 miles and some have over 35,000. When I say "my team" I am talking about the 10 dogs that I train with. Stetson has 3-10 dog teams and I am working with the veterans for now. I don't know which dogs I will run with in the Beargrease, but I am learning all of the basics with the "easiest" team. The pups are tougher to control compared to the veterans. The experienced dogs put their nose up and let you slide the harness on, then they lift their right paw to slip the saddlebag harness over their right leg....it is becoming easy. Some pups are like putting a saddle on a wild horse, they are very playful and full of energy. It has become easy to have favorite dogs and dogs you want to run with compared to dogs that are still learning. In the end, they all pull hard and want to run, it comes down to finding the right mix of dogs that will compete but still give me a chance to have an error free race (which doesn't happen often). My favorite saying is "When you race, there are 100 things that can happen... and 99 of them are bad". The veteran team is loaded with experienced dogs and I have learned to appreciate the good ones.

Whisper

......is a female that has been a lead dog for me. She straightens out the gangline when I say "Tighten up". She is quiet and never causes a problem. She is a joy to run and a very good dog. I wish they all behaved as sweet as her. But, the one thing she lacks is aggressive speed, which may keep her off the race team. Either way, I have had the priveledge to run with a great sled dog.

Disaster in Slow Motion

Running the Mid Distance Bear Grease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 25 September 25, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Disaster struck on Saturday as I was running the dogs on the first loop. As we came around a corner I see my lead dog jumping over a giant tree that had fallen. I could not stop or the dogs would get hung up in the tree so I had to wait for the last set of dogs to be jumping over the tree when I hollered Whoa! Nobody got hurt, the wheeler did not hit the tree but now I have the dogs on one side and me and the wheeler on the other....stuck. For 10 minutes I fiddled with the idea of tying off the dogs and unhooking the wheeler but the drag rope was too tight and couldn't untie and for the first time I did not have my knife.....first lesson of the day! Stetson showed up and in 10 minutes I was on my way after he used a chain saw to free the wheeler. The second lesson of the day was to unhook the tug lines on the dogs to calm them down. If they are off tug lines, it defusus them and takes away 90% of their power to pull. Later in the run I tried to have the dogs go "haw" (left) where they usually don't and it was trouble! I learned my 3rd lesson of the day: Stay the course, keep it simple, boring is good! For some reason I thought we could go left and it would be this smooth, all in a line left easy turn.......NOT. Every dog turned hard left and we got wrapped up in some trees, breaking necklines and potentially harming the dogs. Only because I was going slow did I avert disaster. If I had been in a sled, I would have been in big trouble. Again, lessons for the rookie sometime come in bunches and today was a bitter sweet day. In a controlled enviornment, we were able to correct it easily. But, on the trail at 3am in the dead of darkness going full speed and it is -30 below.....Disaster!

Learn to learn.

Running the Mis Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 23, September 23, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Sponsored by Stewart Taylor Printing

I have learned to learn. Stetson has taught me a great lesson in that I need to have focus each training / conditioning day. I need to be doing something specific and have a focused goal each run. I have talked about this earlier but it is evident that this will be the most important part of my training. What exactly am I doing today? What is my purpose with these dogs today? Voice commands, voice recognition in their circle, what speed and why, health of the dogs, wide turns etc.. My confidence is growing each day with the dogs and I am convinced that I will finish the race with all 8 dogs intact. My mind often drifts to winter and for the first time in my life, I can't wait for cold and snow! I am jogging 3 miles for my conditioning without stopping and I feel better each time out. Anytime Fitness is on the way home and I will get some weight work for the legs tonight. For dinner : Alaskan Salmon on a cedar plank and acorn squash. I am down to 187lbs. I believe I will get to 175lbs by the Beargrease. I am truly blessed to have this in my life right now.

Drinking and Training

Day 18 September 18, 2010
Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

OK. Let's get it out on the table right now. Who has more fun than humans? Especially when there is drinking and a wrestling ring involved. Moira's Birthday last night and we ended up at a bon fire with good friends who have a full size ring in the garage.....you can't make this stuff up (thanks Keith). I ended up in the ring wit a cape and a mask on! Even then, I thought about not getting hurt so that I could still run the race. This has taken over most of my daily thoughts as I find myself thinking what it is going to be like in the middle of the night running the dogs up past my shack in Finland..... I ran 2 miles before going out and then began to pollute my body with beer and whiskey......I believe that that will have to slow way down as we get closer to January. I felt good running yesterday, like I am over the hump and back in some kind of "shape". I ran the dogs 5 loops today. One with John and 4 by myself. I learned a huge lesson today. Never let the dogs stop on their own. John is a great trainer, he understand these animals as good as anyone. Lance Mackay, winner of the past 4 Iditarods, is using Stetson's dogs this year and loves their speed and attitude. Again, I am lucky to be with Stetson. Today's run will be the routine until we start doing road work....... once our trail is so bad we just can't use it anymore. Sponsorships are starting to take place. Out There Advertising is creating a brochure that will entice pledges from bigger corporations down to the neighbor who wants to help. I believe this activity is going to ignite interest in the community and get more people to participate one way or the other in the Beargrease.

Every Day there is something going on!

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 13: Monday September 13, 2010
Team Buzzsaw

Day off. Took Moira up to Stetson’s to drop a log splitter and pet the dogs. I figure the more I am around them, the better chance I have to deal with them in rough situations. Had a “normal” conversation with John, he is easy and fun to talk to when you don’t see the whites of his eyes and the dogs are going crazy. His son Nelson is a smart, talented kid. John seems to be a great dad with a lot of kid in him when he is with his son.


Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 14: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Team Buzzsaw

Rode 3.5 miles on a “video bike” at Phy Ed today, then lifted for 20 minutes. The video bike is cool because it gives you choices of what view you want to see while you are riding. Today we had the West Coast Highway in California. My good friend Wayne and I have a race on the bikes, loser buys a shake. He has never beaten me and I have been beating him like a drum ….so I bought today….pitty purchase. He beats me 60% of the time in squash or racquetball and I went broke last winter buying him shakes. I will join Anytime Fitness in October and have the ability to workout ....well....anytime. It is on the way to work and the owner, Jinell has agreed to be a sponsor of team Buzzsaw!

Genetic Mutts

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 15: Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Team Buzzsaw

Showed up early at Stetson’s and started picking up poop. The dogs know me now and I have fun watching how excited they get to have someone pet them. There are a couple that are shy and want nothing to do with you but for the most part they go nuts. Tabio is my favorite pup. He is as playful as any of the others but just looks like a purebred. A lot of these dogs are mutts. They are genetic mutts, bred down from different strains of mushing dogs. HoBo was one of Lance Mackey dogs that is used for breeding….lucky dog! I put on most of the harnesses today and drove 1 loop with Stetson and 2 alone. It was flawless and this team is easy to handle. They know what to do! I try to imitate Stetson’s voice when giving commands, not quite there ….yet. I got a tour of the mushing truck today. If you need something, it’s somewhere in that truck. Food, harnesses, gang lines, neck lines…it’s all in there.

Bonus Day

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 12: Sunday, September 12, 2010 Team Buzzsaw

Today was a bonus day. I was able to get Brody to drive Ben to baseball and that cleared my morning to run the dogs. We went earlier this morning than yesterday….still too hot later in the day. Today’s dog team was a perfect team. We had every dog in the right spot. Yesterday, we had tried a different lead dog and it was apparent she was not ready…..yet. John is very good at training dogs in different spots and picking up tendencies. He reads something in the dogs and learns something specific about a dog each day……..always learning. I learn a lot each day by making rookie mistakes and paying the price. There’s no room for major mistakes on the trail, so I am making them now in a controlled situation with lots of help.

1) Harness all dogs first …then put them on the gang line.
2) Lead dog goes on the gang line first to keep it tight and last to come off
3) Attach holding rope closer to the wheeler so you can reach it sitting down….No slack!
4) Lead dog hooks up in only 1 spot……..and not on the collar….duh

So many things are common sense after they happen wrong once. I am learning at a quick pace and enjoying it. I didn’t think I would become attached to the dogs but after only 2 days I have my favorites….Cirrus is a great lead dog, Russell is as solid as they come, Rocket just wants to pull and Tabatha is a great pup. I am making wood signs down at Stewart Taylor so I know who is who. There are 30 dogs in the kennel and I need to know each one’s name. The handlers are Jonathon and Juliet; they are very good and have been patient with the rookie. I appreciate them letting me come into their world. I will try not to overstep my bounds but I have to be able to do everything by myself pretty soon. We talked about some runs up to “Wolf Piss Lodge” this winter where we would stay for a couple days and make 30 mile loops from there…..same trails as the marathon.
The weight is falling off right now. I am already down to 188lbs. Moira found a website called myfitnesspal.com. It lets you plug in your goal and it will help you with caloric control. You also put in your exercises and it will apply that to your calorie intake. Yesterday it told me I was 600 calories short because of the bike ride…..so I got to eat another banana with peanut butter on it and had a meal shake with protein. Water is still my biggest concern. I have to force myself to drink more. It’s 70 degrees out today, I think I will run on the trails, hopefully only 40 minutes!

2nd week

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 8: Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Team Buzzsaw

Today, I attended Kyle’s wake and went to dinner with good friends that were there.

Stetson is an interesting person. What I know of him is that he is considered to be the best musher around. He has run the Ididarod, been to the North Pole and on a support team to the South Pole. I know he does a lot of good work with all walks of life with Outward Bound up in the BWCA. It is his dogs that I will use in January. I am very lucky to have this opportunity, those dogs, that trainer and all 15 minutes from my house! His dogs have been bred from some great dogs, including Ididarod champions. My biggest fear is that I will get thrown. It happens to the best of them..........I met a guy that runs up Spirit Mountain 3 days a week. He is going to take me next week and show me his trails. This is going to hurt.


Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 9: Thursday, September 9, 2010
Team Buzzsaw

Funeral today. Very sad for Kyle’s family. A good run helped me clear my head. I ran the ski trails at Seven Bridges road, about 6 blocks from my house. I planned on running 40 minutes but it ended up being 1.5 hours. I ended up get turned around on a bike trail that looked interesting. I will use it for cross training with the bike soon. Moira makes an awesome goulash dot dish. I had some of that with fried zucchini, and then had some more. Evenings are the hardest part of my day as far as food goes. Shake for breakfast, salad for lunch the BOOM…… Fill er up! I was hungry after the run but I need to drink water first before I eat. I am learning how to get in shape again as an older person with slower metabolism……


Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 10: Friday, September 10, 2010
Team Buzzsaw

Yoga Friday! Bike 20 minutes, lift 20 minutes then go through a 45 minute yoga class. Tonight I will walk with my oldest son Parker to hang deer stands for archery deer season. Brkfst Shake, lunch Shake then chicken chili and zucchini for dinner. WATER!!!!!!


Running the Mid distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 11: Saturday, September 11, 2010 9/11 Never Forget”
Team Buzzsaw

Today is the first day conditioning the dogs. Wow! These are crazy animals…….no really, they are truly crazy. All they want to do is run and pull. It was too warm to do more than 2 loops, a mile each. John showed me some simple things like taking wide turns, voice commands, watch for signs from each dog etc.. I didn’t think I was a “dog lover” but I can see that some of these are very special. I have to learn all their names. I am a sponge when it comes to wanting to learn, the last thing I want is to harm one of these dogs. I was going to run them just today and let the handlers, Jonathon and Juliet take them the rest of the week, but I believe I will go back tomorrow. Poop Scooping, harnessing, gang line attachment, conditioning, harnesses off, back on the chains, water and food…..what could go wrong?

Day ONE!