I knew there had to be a reason the dogs need a musher!

In this quote by Franz Stampfl, noted athletic coach credited with pioneering the system of Interval Training, I find the reason for my being out there. Cause if you read my post: Top 10 reasons I LOVE my Dogs!!! You already know that my athletic abilities pale in comparison to the dogs of Dew Claw. Here is the justification for why they carry the musher. (OK they actually think I am a glorified cook and masseuse, but this is the real reason.)

“The possibilities in racing tactics are almost unlimited, as in a game of chess; for every move there is a counter, for every attack there is a defense… The runner’s greatest asset, apart from essential fitness of body, is a cool and calculating brain allied to confidence and courage. Above all, he must have a will to win”.

I am the chess playing calculator, driven by the urge to win*
*or reach the goals I have set for me and the team.

I have to tell you, for someone who attributes so much intelligence and personality to my dogs there is one thing I have not seen. Dogs do not get involved in the drama of a race. They could care less if John Baker is a day ahead, or how close Lachlan Clarke is. Not that they do not get excited when they smell another team on the trail, and dig a little deeper to catch them, cause Hey that is just good fun. And they feed off of us and our emotions, reacting to them. But they certainly are not doing the math, “OK so if we are here now we must be traveling X fast, and if rest Y hours, and accomplish Z with the next run, that puts us there by ETA”. They are not thinking, “If we camp here we can break up this long stretch of trail in a way, and that will allow us to do this other thing, that we think in the long run will be a benefit”.

Colleen Robertia with her leader in the Nome Campgroud, Iditarod 2010

This is where the musher has a unique talent to bring to the team. We think critically, worry, plan, and aspire. In spite of the fact that I am pretty sure sometimes my dogs think I am nuts. Example; “did you hear her singing? Ouch!” “now tell me again; why can’t I eat the cat?” “can you believe she shovels it all up every day and hoards it?” It is still generally agreed upon that I am calling the shots.

I may not be able to out run them but I can out think them.

Ed Hopkins with wife Michelle Phillips happy team in Nome 2010

Mushers minds, the emotional and intellectual capacity we bring to the team, is a blessing and a curse. I think the dogs are overjoyed to be at a race finish, and the excitement is contagious. But I am not sure if the champion’s dogs feel the same elation and achievement over the actual accomplishment as the human does at that moment. As the race progresses and you observe teams coming in, you notice All teams are happy to be in the finish chute, they don’t seem to care where they placed. I am endowing humans with a greater ability to place value on and enjoy symbolic things, like a hard won championship, than their canine team mates. It may be that same detachment from symbols of value that buffers them from the less fun emotions. They are spared the nerves and pressure of competition, manifested in the stomach wrenching sleepless roller-coaster of the night before the race that some mushers feel (OK me). They just seem to enjoy the excitement of everyone and all the dogs gathered together for the race start in the morning.

Dan's team ready to go at the start of the 2010 Iditarod

As the musher we need to see potential and possibility in ways not apparent to our four footed team mates.  Since teams draw energy from their musher, we need to stay positive and focused. That is why Stampfl’s description of “a cool and calculating brain allied to confidence and courage.” really struck me as appropriate for mushers. Something else I can work on~

As part of writing this blog I was looking at some web pages on metal toughness for ultra runners. I often find information for ultra runners has parallels (although not an exact match) in distance mushing. This blog is one such example of where you can find food for thought. Although hardly a guide for a rookie musher it provides some insight into the preparation for and running of a first event. Ultramarathon Training Tips by Jonel Mendoza

“The mind is capable of doing amazing things, not the least getting you to the finish line successfully.”

“You start out too fast.  This is something I cannot help you with.  Be disciplined enough to follow your race pace plan by all means.”

“It may feel miserable but do not quit.  Do not let quitting enter your mind.  Feeling down is part of the whole ultra experience.”

Also really liked reading: How Tough Are You? With a line that explains why I love living in Alaska.

“2) Train in adverse conditions: If you always train under ideal conditions, then you are missing the opportunity to develop the perseverance that comes from training in bad weather and darkness.”