Preparing with Longer Runs

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 144, January 13, 2011
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

Sweet day yesterday as we ran to Two Harbors and back on the North Shore Trail. A 2 hour layover in Two Harbors with 2 teams from the Stetson kennel and 2 teams from the Gordon kennel made it feel more like the real thing. Dogs put down to sleep or rest and the handlers and mushers talking about their dogs over a sandwich. There is a standard conversation that seems to always take place at layovers; "See that dog right there....." and the story continues. Each dog has their story; where they came from, how fast they run (or use to run), what their good or bad habits are and so on. With 30 dogs on the run, there was a lot to talk about. The longer run really opened my eyes to how tough the full Beargrease is. The mid distance that I am doing is done in 20 hours. The full is 4 days! It is a grueling race with the Sawtooth Mountains in the middle of it. I look forward to longer training runs as we get closer to Jan 30.