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?