I am pretty sure I read where stress is actually a good thing. *wait a minute let me google it…  Here we go, info on the good side of stress~

Yes good stress, the reason we rise to challenges “some stress is healthy and necessary to keep us alert and occupied.”  Well it is safe to say we are alert and occupied right now at Dew Claw Kennel!  Right now we are preparing our drop bags for not 1, but 2 thousand mile races!  Dan’s Yukon Quest and my (Jodi’s) Iditarod. Both sets of bags must be finished this month. Dan’s will be turned in on Jan. 19th; and mine will be turned in next month. But since I will be handling for Dan and the kids as they tackle the Yukon Quest trail my bags must be done and ready to go before we leave for the start in Whitehorse at the end of the month.  Previously I have done some blogs explaining what all goes into drop bags: Another race in the bag, and Anatomy of Drop Bags – a photo dissection of what goes into planning for 1000 miles. They will give you an idea of what all goes into making the drop bags that are used on these 1000 mile races we tackle.

It may be hard for people reading this to believe, but the process of preparing the drop bags might actually be more stressful then the actual running of the race! Really!  There is a lot of stress involved in knowing that everything you will have for your entire race needs to be carefully planned out and packaged by checkpoint. Knowing that the only gear and food you will have access to will be contained in these ever so important drop bags. Not to mention the expense of bulk buying items like massage balm for the dogs (we LOVE Mushers First Aid from Mountain Ridge), runner plastic, nutritional supplements, and literally TONS of meat and kibble.

And now, as we prepare all this,  is the perfect time to thank some of the new Team Dew Claw members who are making all this possible.  Was very excited by my last trip to the post office, not only were some of the supplements we ordered in, but there was a special care package from our friends Bob & Jolene!!!  Home made candy, batteries, new ski poles, and other goodies for drop bags. Mush Thanks!  Also very glad that our dear friends Bill and Sue will be hosting us in Whitehorse. And we will be staying with friends Theresa and John in Anchorage. Having such great friends who let us stay with them really makes it much more comfortable, not just for Dan and I, but for the kids. Knowing they are safe and comfortable before the big events makes us all so much happier. And being with good friends before hitting the trail is always a pleasure for us.

Of course there are still lots of open checkpoints looking for sponsors, and we would love to have you join Team Dew Claw!   Right now while we are actually doing the major work of putting drop bags together is the perfect time to show your support and help make sure we are ready to hit the trail. See what Checkpoints are still available~

 But Wait!  Just in case Drop Bags were not enough stress in our lives…

This weekend we have a few races planned. Dan and I are going to split up (just for the weekend) and take teams to 2 separate events.  Dan will be taking the dogs he hopes will be making up his Quest team to the Copper Basin, a notoriously tough 300 mile race that will give him the opportunity to take a good look at how the Quest team is shaping up and working together. I will be taking the younger dogs to our local Two Rivers Solstice 100 (rescheduled for this weekend due to bad trail conditions past month). This will give them another opportunity to gain valuable race experience. Plus the Two Rivers Dog Mushers events are always really fun, well run events.  Of course all this is contingent on us getting enough work done around here to make it possible for both of us to go off and have fun with the kids…

And on that note, I better stop blogging and get back to getting things ready for drop bags!
BUT before I go: a Huge Thank You to all the wonderful Team Dew Claw members for the continued encouragement and support!!!
Check out the amazing people and wonderful companies that make up Team Dew Claw.