First race of the season, the Two Rivers Dog Mushers (TRDMA) Solstice 100, was this past weekend (Dec 17th) and Dan and I had a great time running the Dew Claw dogs. The results are posted here, and I have to tell you we could not be happier with how our teams preformed.
And now that we are all home, dogs massaged and fed, gear unpacked, I wanted to take a minute and share with you some of this weekends excitement. First in the form of this great video, shot by TRDMA supporter Melinda Shore. It take you inside the drivers meeting, and then tours the parking lot pre-race. Nice shots of teams getting ready and the many different styles of dog boxes (the trailers or truck mounted mobile multi-dog kennels mushers use to transport the team)
Our decision to go was last minute to say the least. On Thursday I saw online that the race was going to happen. *In the past low snow and concerns for safety had caused this early season race to be postponed or canceled, but this years snow fall meant the trails were in great shape.
So while we camped the dogs on a 80 mile training run Dan and I got to talking. “You know they are going to have the Solstice 100 race this year.” “Yeah that is always a fun race. ” “Well why not go?” and thus a plan was hatched. Since most of our females were coming into, in the middle of, or going out of heat we decided to dived the race dogs into an all male team lead by Dan & a squad of girls (with one lucky male who ran in wheel next to a spayed female) lead by me.
This weekend was actually a big one for mushing. Along with the TRDMA Solstice 100 there were 2 other major events running. The Alaska Excursion and the Sheep Mountain, both of which had early registration. But Dan and I were not sure if we would be able to travel to those events. I teach for the Interior-Aleutians Campus of UAF, and this time of year is busy with end of semester work and grades due. But we are fortunate that the Solstice is only 1 1/2 hours from our home: much easier event for us to get to.
Early season races like these allow mushers to give the dogs experience camping at checkpoints and running with other teams. Even seasoned race dogs benefit from a few warm up races to ‘get their grove on’. And if I am being honest, I need some early season ‘grove getting’ as well.
Once we had decided to head to the race, the preparation began. I had to work on Friday, so that meant Dan had to do double duty at the meat saw. He cut snacks for both teams, got the trailer and truck ready, and even drug my sled to the garage to thaw and dry so I could pack it for the race. After work I got my drop bags together, packed the sled and was good to go. *Read more about race drop bags here.
Race day began with a very early alarm. The truck was packed, but the dogs still needed a nice meal before they were loaded into the dog box for the trip to the start. The weather was very co-operative, if not a bit warm. And the trail was in excellent condition. But to be fair we expected nothing less, as Mike Green and the trail crew for TRDMA is known for well marked excellent trail. Which is lucky for us, as the Two Rivers trail system is extensive and easily confusing to people who are not familiar with it (like us). The race is an ‘out and back’ run to Angel Creek Lodge and back on the same trail, which takes a series of loops and twists. There are some wonderful long flat groomed sections, and some nice fun twisty wooded sections. In general the trails are very different from the White Mountains where we spend a lot of time climbing & descending, and breaking trail. Actually the chance to let the dogs (and mushers) run some new trails and terrain was a big part of the appeal.
I had drawn bib number 3, and Dan was number 15. So on the first leg I never saw him, and was the first to arrive at the checkpoint. But he set the pace, his actual traveling time of 4 hours 12 minutes was 8 minutes faster then me and the girls. The trail had been smooth and fast. There is one road crossing about half way through the course, manned by volunteers to make sure mushers had no problems with motorists. There were small icy patches, but nothing to worry about. The river crossings were all dry. There was one river crossing under a bridge where the ice was high and you needed to duck to get under the bridge. In another spot, known for always having open water, a bridge had been built allowing us to run right over it without even getting the dogs’ booties wet.
Because racers start at 2 minute intervals they adjust our mandatory rest at the checkpoint to make everyone equal, that way getting an early bib number does not give you an unfair time advantage. With that and his faster time Dan was leaving the checkpoint to run back 8 minutes before me. As I got ready to go out and bootie the team in preparation for the run home I joked, “I thought once we got married I would be done chasing Dan”
But chase him I did! And luckily I was more successful before. Cause this past weekend I could not catch that man! His run home was 4 hours 23 minutes, to my 4 hours 39. And I was really trying. Actually if I am being honest it was not just Dan in front of me that was so motivating. I had some pretty nice teams gunning for me; Thoma Lesatz & Sue Ellis both left right behind me. The trail home was slightly more eventful, as a large section of ice near the bank of one of the river crossings had broken out (Thanks Dan, he admitted he heard it crack as he mushed over it, and looked back to see the open water). Most of my team just leaped over it, as it was not wide. But it was deep, and 2 of my young dogs tried to run through it, only to find out how deep it was, and ended up soaking wet. In colder temps I would have been worried, and had to coat them after stopping to dry them off. But in these warm temps you could safely dry them off and let them run without coats.
We both had hoped for smooth runs, no problems or injuries; accomplished that. It was a chance for us to take a look at all the race dogs under racing conditions. One thing we always like to see is a strong finish for the team. We are happy and proud to say that both teams finished strong. The fact that we had a great time and got to see some wonderful mushing friends was icing on the cake.
An event like this would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of so many people. Not just the mushers who show up to run. But the race organizers. TRDMA is an all volunteer organization, from the race updates to the timers & trail crew. They put on a first class event, and they deserve huge applause!! Thank You to everyone who worked so hard to make this race so much fun!! Check out TRDMA on facebook.
And speaking of great hard workers. There would have been no way both Dan and I could have run without the help of Mike Ellis, Jay Cadzow and Greg Stoddard. They transported our drop bags, helped us at the start and cleaned up after us at the checkpoint. I think they were helping almost everyone in the race, those guys were amazing!
But of course the most amazing hard workers were the dogs ~ I do not have the words to express how much I love my dogs!!!
