Whew! Here it goes:
Kalkaska was GREAT. We did 6dog sport and 4dog pro; I've never had cleaner runs! In 4dog pro, we took 7th of 38. Not too damn bad, eh?
And now let's skip ahead to this weekend....Fife Lake. I should probably begin by saying IT WAS COLD AS HELL. I will then continue trying to explain how DAMN COLD it was. Once again, we did 6sport and 4pro. The sport team started out as pretty much a joke and just a way to exercise my "extras," but they ended up pulling (pun very much intended) a 3rd place finish in that class. Those dogs ran hard....all four of them. Damn straight. I ran four dogs in a six dog class and we took 3rd place. Not too damn bad, eh?
The trail was pretty intense, so you had to drive the sled like your life depended on it....because it pretty much did. My 4dog was on fire. Seriously, there were flames. We were sitting in 5th on Saturday. Sunday started at a balmy -20 and warmed up to a searing -3.
We were in the chute for 4dog and, literally at the LAST second, Freddie decided that she also wanted to wear Heini's harness. We barely cleared the chute and I had to hook down, untangle them and explain to Freddie that single beds are only made for ONE. After that, the run was FLAWLESS and fast as anything. Even after all that, we held our 5th place spot. Not too damn bad, eh? I'm happy with it.
Now, like I've been saying, it was way too hot all weekend. Oh, wait....no it wasn't. Silly me. I think we've established that it was finger-number cold, right? Good. Just have to make sure you're following me. It was during my 4dog that I realized how much my ear hurt. Question mark I thought to myself. I took off my gloves to feel it....only problem was, I couldn't. My fingers were fine, but my earlobe was stiff and numb. Naturally, I said to hell with it and concentrated on my run. I forgot about my ear until we started the truck to drive home.....and then I realized the feeling in my earlobe was similar to what I would expect if a small raccoon, no more like a badger or a wolverine, were trying to CHEW ITS WAY THROUGH MY SKIN. Needless to say, I frostbit my ear. No, THE FROST bit my ear. Uncalled for. BUT, it's still attached to my head. Not too damn bad, eh?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
if your heart is nowhere in it, i don't want it for a minute
KALKASKA IS THIS WEEKEND! Do you have ANY idea what that means? It's my favorite race of the season. Oh Lordy I can't wait.
It always seems so surreal to go from all of this crazy training and preparation to the dead calm of a race trail. It's honestly the time to take a deep breath and say, "well, we gave it hell, so let's see if it worked." It's a little like being on your deathbed, only way happier of course, because once you hit the trail, there are no excuses. Either you got the miles, or you didn't. Simple as that.
That being said, I'm running tonight. The last two weeks have been 4X's, and this week will be also. I'll run tonight (Tuesday) and either tomorrow or Thursday. I'd prefer to run tomorrow and avoid Thursday because I have class until 6pm. We shall see. I'd run those crazy assholes in the dark with Kalkaska looming!
I think I lied about Bristow. I do LOVE that name, but I keep calling her Rachel. I very much dislike the name Rachel, but it's so HER. You know?
Brennan gave me an exciting positive sign last week. Since day one she has been a driving fool, but sometimes her head isn't quite in it. WELL, she led for three miles last Thursday. I put her up with Tune and they led away from the truck, turned us around (manually....I purposely ran them into a dead-end), and drove home like professionals. I love to see progress like that. She's a solid-headed little dog, so I really think I can start leading her in training more often.
Speaking of training, we've been running like the crazy fools we are. Last year, I had "problems" on race trails because my dogs were gaited for the twisty bullshit at Fort Custer. They had the miles, but not the reach nor the right wind to power through a semi-straight trail. This year, I hope I've changed that.
There's a 1.5mile stretch that we've been running. We hit the end, turn around and run back to the truck. I switch leaders and we take off again. That's six solid miles of flat-out speed. At least I hope. At the very least, because they pick their heads up a little early in preparation for the turn-around, it's four solid miles. Twice a week I add a loop through the woods, which is mostly straight, making it five or so.
Tonight, to get them on a new trail and to test their stamina a little bit, I'm going to do six miles in the woods. It'll be a little choppy, but they need a refreshing run before their big debut weekend.
As I sit here now, I have 10 dogs who have worked their asses off, consistently given me their all and driven their hearts out. Let's see what the competition has to offer!
It always seems so surreal to go from all of this crazy training and preparation to the dead calm of a race trail. It's honestly the time to take a deep breath and say, "well, we gave it hell, so let's see if it worked." It's a little like being on your deathbed, only way happier of course, because once you hit the trail, there are no excuses. Either you got the miles, or you didn't. Simple as that.
That being said, I'm running tonight. The last two weeks have been 4X's, and this week will be also. I'll run tonight (Tuesday) and either tomorrow or Thursday. I'd prefer to run tomorrow and avoid Thursday because I have class until 6pm. We shall see. I'd run those crazy assholes in the dark with Kalkaska looming!
I think I lied about Bristow. I do LOVE that name, but I keep calling her Rachel. I very much dislike the name Rachel, but it's so HER. You know?
Brennan gave me an exciting positive sign last week. Since day one she has been a driving fool, but sometimes her head isn't quite in it. WELL, she led for three miles last Thursday. I put her up with Tune and they led away from the truck, turned us around (manually....I purposely ran them into a dead-end), and drove home like professionals. I love to see progress like that. She's a solid-headed little dog, so I really think I can start leading her in training more often.
Speaking of training, we've been running like the crazy fools we are. Last year, I had "problems" on race trails because my dogs were gaited for the twisty bullshit at Fort Custer. They had the miles, but not the reach nor the right wind to power through a semi-straight trail. This year, I hope I've changed that.
There's a 1.5mile stretch that we've been running. We hit the end, turn around and run back to the truck. I switch leaders and we take off again. That's six solid miles of flat-out speed. At least I hope. At the very least, because they pick their heads up a little early in preparation for the turn-around, it's four solid miles. Twice a week I add a loop through the woods, which is mostly straight, making it five or so.
Tonight, to get them on a new trail and to test their stamina a little bit, I'm going to do six miles in the woods. It'll be a little choppy, but they need a refreshing run before their big debut weekend.
As I sit here now, I have 10 dogs who have worked their asses off, consistently given me their all and driven their hearts out. Let's see what the competition has to offer!
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