The Handlers Get it Done

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 140, January 9, 2011
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

I was able to work with a team this weekend as a handler in the White Oak Dog Sled Race in Deer River, MN. It was a great learning experience and helped me to understand the other 90% of what needs to get done to run a team in a race. The musher gets the glory but it is truly the handlers and the dogs who do the bulk of the work (kind of like a running back and the offensive linemen). Here's the list of chores the handlers take care of once the truck is at the race: Put out droplines for the dogs and get them out of the truck, help prepare the sled and everything that the musher needs in it, get the gangline attached and doublechecked, help attach the snubline and snow hook, feed and water the dogs 1 hour before the race, put on ointment and dog booties for each paw, walk the dogs to loosten them up, harness and hook up the dogs and then help get them to the starting gate. Then go back to the truck, pick up the poop and food bowls, stack the gear, lock up the truck and head to the next checkpoint......and wait. Waiting is the hardest part of it. You have to guess about 10 mph x 48 miles = almost 5 hours, give or take an hour. On top of that, you have to be waiting for the musher to come in and get him on his way asap. If it is a layover, then the work begins. Hook up the team to the truck, keeping them on the gangline and harnesses on, taking off the booties, massage the wrists, feed the team and put out the straw and blankets for thier nap. about 5 or 6 hours later.... (hopefully you have gotten some shuteye) it starts over. And on it goes....hurry up and wait. The handlers are the #2 heroes, right after the dogs. The Musher comes in as a close 3rd most important part of the race!