Coming soon! Be Green Micro-Grant Program

Okay, at KEA we have always been about respecting our environment- regardless of what that environment is- urban/rural, natural and pristine or man made. So as the summer unfolded and the BP oil well kept spilling our frustration and anger kept growing- like I am sure many of yours did.

Our frustration was/is because it seemed like there was nothing we could do, a sense of helplessness. Probably a lot of you experienced the same emotions but really there is a lot that we can do. Maybe not to actually stop the oil spilling or physically clean up the beaches but we can change how we approach our daily lives and make small commitments to actively create local environments that are respectful to all that share it- human, animal, and plant.

Now KEA is a small family business, and like a lot of people these days we are just barely scraping by, so we don't have the huge economic power to force or promote societal behaviors the way large corporations, with their huge marketing and PR budgets, do. No, instead, what we do have is a desire to do something- anything- and some minor skill in communicating and connecting people through digital media.

So, over the next few weeks we will be setting up a micro-grant program where people can send in proposals for small- community, school, classroom, family, individual- scaled project ideas that improve the living environments for all in the their area. Each proposal entry will have a small fee. We'll create a scoring rubric to judge the project proposals and then using that scoring guide we will all vote on which projects should be funded. Funding will come from the proposal entry fees so the amount will vary depending on how many projects are submitted. A true grassroots effort!

We are still working out the details. Please contact us with input!! At the moment we are thinking that we will have monthly (or more regular) themes and project categories. Perhaps structured so that only after “X” number of proposals are submitted will we vote, etc... Again, please contact us with your ideas on how to do this!

We are also thinking that we will create a fairly specific proposal format. All proposals will be publicly viewable so that even ideas that aren't funded will be up on the web for others to see and use if they want. In that way, every idea can be taken up and implemented by any who want. The types of projects we will promote are the kind that can be done by individuals, small groups, a class, a school, etc... even without outside funding. Our grants will just be a little bonus to get things going- a kick in the butt to get us motivated!

Our hope is that as we travel around on our bikes this August we can collect a series of examples to use as idea starters. But again, we are still working out the details and want any and all input we can get!

With May on its way what very cool special event do we have lined up for you?  Survive!  Typically an on-demand program we have revved it up to Special Event status with some major twists- including an after-event online role playing bonanza and a super charged multi-point curriculum that will have your students working hand in hand with kids from around the country to save our survivor!

You can learn more here. 

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