In the last entry I described, in some detail, what the runs of the Don Bowers were like- the mechanics.

But in reality, the race has another side to it- emotions.

This is, maybe, the most important factor in the dogs performance!

Yes, you must have properly trained them. Yes, they must receive the correct nutrition. Yes, to too many other things to list- but the emotions of the musher deeply effect the dogs.

The saying is “you can't push a rope” and it is so true. The dogs have to want to run for us. And they do! With all their heart! Just watch them in training when you pull out the sled and lines- they go crazy wanting to go for a run. It's in their genetic code as deeply as any lab's desire to chase a ball or retrieve a stick.

It's all fun for them- until it's not.

And I think the fun goes away the second I stop having fun. The second I start treating the race as anything but an extended training run. So that's why it's worth describing my emotions on the race. It's just totally interesting how much they effect the dogs.

The race started out mentally slow and relaxed for me. I had a nice, achievable race plan and no pressure to perform relative to the other teams around me. We ran into our first rest smooth and on track with the slight exception that I got a little frustrated that they slowed down a bit at the end. Actually they slowed enough so that at mile 40 a few teams started to pass us, where as prior to that we were all running in a bit of a bubble at the same speed just a few minutes apart from each other.

That frustration built a bit but I did a good job controlling it, understanding that they were a young team at the end of a hard run through hot temps. I never said anything to them as we slowed and then took our break a few miles early to limit the distance we spent traveling slowly.

My thought at the time was that a good rest would perk them back up, the setting sun would bring colder temps, and the trail would harden up some. All of which turned out to be true and once we got back on the trail we were ripping along again much faster than on our first run- making up the time we had spent going slow!

I was stoked! Emotionally totally pumped at their performance and the decisions I had made! All of which fed back on itself to produce a really great run!

In retrospect though, there might have been a few emotional cracks as I waited out their rest break. It was sunset and I always get down around then anyway but the doubt produced by their drooping performance at the end of the first run didn't help. I worked through it though, by building a small fire and keeping myself busy collecting wood while I waited. Then, when it was time to go, they got so excited they pulled the hook and took off before I was even ready- kind of a pain, but their energy got me excited and away we went!

Late into the second run, with about 10 miles to go- I got really sleepy! Immediately the dogs performance dropped off and we slowed down a fair amount. But then we heard a train whistle in the distance. We can hear that from the house and so it was kind of exciting to hear on the race. Plus, I knew it meant we were almost into the checkpoint. I got excited. The dogs got excited. And away we went... looping into the checkpoint looking like we just started out rather than wrapping up a hundred mile run!

And then came the 8 hr mandatory layover.

I couldn't sleep.

I got lonely.

I questioned everything I was doing.

When it was over we left with me having been awake for over 30 hours! Stupid!

The dogs looked like crap. My sled looked like crap. Even the crystal clear view of mt. Denali looked like crap!

I should have slept because in reality nothing was wrong. After about 5 miles of stop and go running where I was running up to fix every little tangle- something I NEVER do in training- we finally got going. I was frustrated and totally doubted we could even finish! Ahh... not again... my own worse enemy!

Anyway, despite me, the dogs took off and we had a GREAT run for about 35 miles. Or a total run of about 40, which is the exact distance they had trouble during each of the previous runs. It just seems to be a bit of either a physical or mental block for this team at this stage in their lives.

But at that point I was nearing 40 hours without sleep and didn't see it so rationally. I thought the world was crumbling and was certain if I shut the team down for a rest the would never get up. So I made the decision to break my race plan and try to run straight through to the finish.

I got excited at the idea of making such a bold move and- once again- the dogs picked up on it and away we went!

Right up to the point where passed our camp from the trip up!

The pups went from 10.3mph to 0.3mph in about 10 feet!

I then struggled for THREE hours to cover less than a mile! Frustration doesn't even begin to describe my emotions!

In my mind everything I had spent the last 2 years working for was crumbling around me! I was certain I would never race again. Considered getting out of dogs all together. Was thinking everything I was was a big joke!

Finally I gave in, camped the dogs, built a fire, dried my gear, pulled out my sleeping bag and slept!

I woke up freezing, ran up and down the trail to warm up, woke up the dogs and took off......

Whooooooosh!

Away we went. I was refreshed from nap, excited to be under a full moon with my dogs and totally stoked to be on the move again!

We ran the last 40 miles in just a hair over 4hrs. Nearly 2mph faster than we train for and at the end of 200 miles... the longest run of the pups lives!

It was a GREAT finish- 6 hrs later than planned- but still, with a strong dog team that I had trouble stopping at the truck!

And now, nearly a week removed the race, it's clear that all the trouble I have ever had on races is from my own head! The result of getting negative.

And isn't that just the truth of life!

Stay positive!

Oh... and the picture at the top?  It's symbolic because in the middle of a sleep deprived race everything is hyper-contrasted... positive/negative... and now I know what's the next thing I need to work on to someday be the kind of dog driver i want to be1

The Don Bowers race is over! 

I am home, had a short nap, feel refreshed and am excited about everything in front of me! 

But my muscles still feel the ache of standing on, and running next to, the sled for 20 hours- not to mention all the rest break and checkpoint chores of nearly 48hours on the trail without any sleep... and oh ya, still totally sleep deprived!

I should start by describing what distance sled dog racing means to me. 

(Prelude: It's an anology to everything else in life!)

First, and foremost it means getting to spend my life with, for, and around sled dogs.  They are amazing creatures.

Second, it means having a clear goal.

Everything to do with sled dogs is about setting goals, developing a plan to achieve those goals, and then implementing them.

Third, it's about ambition.  The ambition of doing well compared to others and being recognized for it.  Okay, so that's just a little bit of an ugly way to look at it, but it's true!  Otherwise why not just go for a long camping trip with your dogs?

Now, the Don Bowers race was, for me, the pin head where all three of these factors met!

They all crashed down on the third run of the race into one big heap of defeat....

Only to be lifted back up on the fourth run into total satisfaction!

Part 2- will go into that in detail, but for now... another nap (then, hopefully, my spelling wil improve :)

It is right smack in the middle of the busiest race weeks for us this year.

We just got back from the Tustumena 100, where Charlie ran the team, and one day away from the Don Bowers 200, when I get to run them.

The Tustumena went GREAT!  The team ran at an average of 8.5 mph.  And there was ZERO injuries.  Lost did develope a bit of a sore wrist by the finish but just 2 hours later it was totally fine!

This was by far the healthest race team we have ever had at a finish... tails wagging, barking, and basically looking as energized as at the start of any run at home!

All of the dogs on this team are just 18 months old- except the two leaders who are 6 and 7.  That's very young, you can see it in thier bodies.  They look just like young teenagers all gangly and a bit uncoordinated!

That will all change! 

But for now our goals are to get them in a few races, run easy and slow, rest a LOT, and let them learn that racing is FUN!

So the Tustumena was a total success!  With the added bonus that they learned how to live out of the truck for 5 days!  Another skill they need to learn.

And now that leads us up to the Don Bowers 200.  The Tustumena 100 was 2, 55 mile runs with a 4hr rest seperating them.  We are going to run this race like two Tustumena races...

In other words our plan is to run 50 miles rest 4hrs run 50 miles more to the halfway point.  There we take a mandatory 8 hr rest and then run back down the same way we came- 50 miles, 4hr rest, 50 miles to finish.

Again, our goal is to average 8-9mph the whole way.  So we should get to the halfway point in 16hrs and finish the race in 40hrs- If all goes well.

If all that happens then we will call it a great race season!

Next year with more maturity in the team we will try to bump up our traveling speeds to 10mph!  They want that now, so it shouldn't be an issue, they just don't have the deep level endurance that can only come with age.  So if we let them try for 10mph this year they fade down to 6mph by the 25 mile mark... Distance racing is all about pacing.

Nothing I see marks a truly good dog musher more than split times at checkpoints that indicate consistent speed throughout the race!