New Year's Run

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 134, January 3, 2011
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

My first run of the new year was a blast. We hooked up 2-6 dog teams and flew! The trails were packed and groomed, the weather was crisp and the dogs wanted to run. We ran 20 miles in under 2 hours (11 mph) and it gave me the insight to the speed I need to run the race at. 12.2 mph won the race last year and that is moving pretty good for 100 plus miles. I rested the dogs once every 45 minutes or so.... usually when they should be loping and aren't and after I have called them up to push it. I figure all they need a 30 second rest. It is better to rest them when they are tired, they will give you more when you need it later. The dogs all looked good, strong, healthy and hungry at the end. You want your dogs to have a great appetite at the end of a training run. My new favorite "World Class" dog is

Sparkler

This dog is a go getter and bounds out of the truck each day. (Sparkler has 2 brothers; Rocket and M-80. I run with Rocket too and he is just as good. The reason they all have firecracker names is that you name your dogs in this sport with a "theme". When Stetson was on an expedition, some dogs were born and the handlers, Johnathon and Juliet named them after the movie "Transformers". The dogs were Mudflap and Starscream). I saved him for the lead on the return trip to help drive a solid pace. This dog has a speed record in the Mid Distance while he was in the lead....fastest time in a 30 mile run. He has won this race before and I can see why! I am looking forward to each day now as these dogs are getting in shape. The muscles are evident in their shoulders and they have trimmed their weight down. Only 27 more days to race day!