Always Getting Ready

At least that is what it feels like around here these days!

The Dew Claw dog trailer, packed up and ready to go.

The next big adventure for Dan and I and the kids is the Tustumena 200** (T200), and we are both really looking forward to it. We will be traveling down to the Kenai Peninsula and getting to see new trails in an area where neither of us has run before. The kids have been running great on our home trail, but you have to figure a chance of scenery will do them good too. Plus once again I get the big rookie R next to my name.

**To follow the T200: Check out their website for information and updates.
You can also find them on facebook.**

This race will give us the chance to really take a good look at the race team. As you know we are also gearing up for the Iditarod, and the races leading up to it are a valuable part of that preparation. I need to opportunity to practice my checkpoint routine under actual race conditions, like added stress and less sleep. Also looking forward to giving my new Alpaca socks a test run. Been training in them this past week, and love them, looking forward to giving them the race test. Making sure you have the right race gear, that it preforms well, and you can use it flawlessly is part of the preparations accomplished at races like the T200.

For this race Dan will be running a team of dogs that we are pretty sure we want on my Iditarod team. He will be making sure they are all strong and happy, and looking for any possible ‘chinks in the armor’ so to speak. I will be taking a mixed team of dogs. Some that are still in the running to make the Iditarod squad, and some younger dogs who will be making their race debut with Team Dew Claw. My job is to make sure those young dogs have a wonderful positive race experience, while watching the others with a  critical eye as to which will be joining me on the trail to Nome. ~You can see team rosters for Dan and I at the end of this post~

On a trail breaking training run with Dan.

On the long commute to town today I was thinking about this upcoming weekend, how excited I was that Dan and I would be traveling together to run the T200.  The following thought went through my rambling mind. “Racing” is an interesting verb. Used in one sense it means competing against others to be the fastest. Used in another sense it means the act of being in a race. When asked if I am racing Dan (which technically I will be this weekend, as we are both running the same race) I am inclined to answer, “No I am racing the team of beautiful dogs in front of me”. We may be in the same competition, but we are not necessarily competing. In many ways we are actually still on the same team. He has his goals for the team he is running, that will ultimately help further our kennel’s goals. And I have my goals for my team, again part of the long term goals for Team Dew Claw. Please wish up both luck for a safe, fun, positive run.

Race dogs Elwood and Skittles in the garage. Dogs regularly come in the garage so we can give them a thorough going over to ensure they are prefectly healthy. This includes grooming, massage and pedicure (trimming toenails).

We have heard that the Tustumena will have live GPS trackers, so friends can follow along at home. This technology allows people to follow races closely, without the expensive travel or risk of cold toes. Also allowing the entire world to know when someone gets off trail (often before the musher themselves realizes it!) However this technology (like most technology) is neither full-proof nor perfect. The GPS tracking system does an excellent job, but for folks who are trying to make sense of the data we get from the ‘blip’ (what we jokingly call the spot on the map which represents a musher) may I recommend the “Mushing Tech” blog. These articles help make sense of how to view the data fans see on race tracker websites, with some interesting insight. These articles help make sense of things, and underscore the fact the GPS data must be interpreted with some knowledge of long distance mushing, trail conditions, and understanding of how the technology works.

Also as we get ready I am excited to report that things are moving forward with Iditarod preparations. Although there is still much to be done, and some major expenses left to cover, we are making headway.  For instance:

• Once again we are going to be feeding Baileys Farms freeze dried meats! We have been feeding Baileys Farms meats for the past few years. it can be purchased in Alaska at Cold Spot Feeds in Fairbanks, and Underdog Feeds in Willow
  Why Freeze Dried for racing? Freeze dried meats are not temperature sensitive, and never spoil, no matter what. We are assured high quality meat products in any situation. They reconstitute easily & quickly. And they weight a fraction of what frozen meats would, significantly cutting down on weight in the sled.
• It took some doing but I found a quality bulk source of dog dishes. Container & Packaging Supply carries 64 ounce, food grade, freezer safe containers. They are super lightweight, and the freezer safe part is key, even at sub-zero temps the bowls do not get brittle and crack.
• Also looking forward to the shipment of “Mushers First Aid” we ordered from Mountain Ridge. Love this stuff! The smaller bottles fit in my inside pants pocket, so it is always warm and ready to use. Along with massaging muscles I use to to massage the dogs feet as I inspect them all at checkpoints. As an added benefit it is all natural and I can apply it bare handed, and my hands are softer and less chapped.

Of course there are still a great number of things to be stockpiled and prepared, and a long list of logistics to be handled. It is safe to say we still have a huge task ahead of us. It is not to late to show your support and Join Team Dew Claw as we prepare for exciting adventures ahead. And let me take a minute and thank the wonderful people who have already joined the team! MUSH THANKS to Team Dew Claw!!

Leaders Jake and Loben hanging out in the house durring a cold snap.

Team Roster for the T200:

Dan’s Team: Grumpy, Orchid, Purge, Ribdon, Chess, Windex, Freezer, Vickers, Elias, Doc, Pledge, Cloud, & Lubbock.

Jodi’s Team: Skittles, Loben, Jake, Elwood, CC, Sparrow, Sister, Dust, Ahtna, Dopey, (and making their race team debut) Onion, Carrot, & Chase-um.