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

A day after the Leaders took their 24 hour layovers and I think the race has just been WON!

Okay, okay, okay I know there is a long way to go but Lance Mackey just made HUGE move and now stands firmly in the drivers seat of winning his third race in a row!

But what did he do?

Well, from all evidense he came off his 24 and ran straight through to Iditarod from Takotna!  A huge, long run that as far as I know- though I am sure I am wrong on this- nobody has every tried before!  If he can make this stick, that is, if his dogs don't slow down or require a ton of extra rest, he has put himself hours ahead of any other racer.  

And he did it right as the trails seem to be firming up and offering a little easier pulling for the dogs. All of which bodes well for him!

I just checked and Mackey did a 12.5 hr run! Long but his son did nearly as long of a run- with basically the same team- the week before to win the Jr. Iditarod. So I have to think these dogs are preped for it!

Wow! powerfull running, training, breeding, and faith in his dogs!

Okay, so just about everyone is sitting on their 24 hr layover right now.  Except the back of the pack which is still moving- some trying to get through the Burn still and others on their way to McGrath.

The only real news is that Martin Buser took off from McGrath and ran to Ophir, clocking the fastest time to Takotna along the way- once again he is consistently running fast.

He has yet to take his 24 but has been sitting back in the mid 30's most the race taking a lot of rest and running fast. I suspect his plan is to now take a normal rest in Ophir then run to Iditarod for his 24.

I am sure most of the lead pack would have prefered to do this except they had been running harder from the begining of the race and breaking trail all the way.  Trail reports had heavy snow blanketing the trail out of Takotna and so they decided they needed to pull over in order to preserve their teams.

Buser, with all his rest must have felt he still had a strong team and could power through and take his 24 a 100+ further down the trail.  This means that going up the Yukon and even further along on the coast he should be able to keep running faster.  To me this seems like a great idea and I am looking forward to how it plays out.

Off course the one thing that could throw a kink in the whole thing is if he gets out ahead and lays down a good hard trail for the others to skim along behind him on. 

For that to happen a couple things need to occur; First the snow needs to stop, Second the it needs to get cold- both those things will create a good trail for the Neff, Burmiester, Sab, Mackey, King, Seavey crew to catch up to Buser as they come flying off their 24.

On the other hand, that is not really in the weather forecast.  I have heard there is a thin wind crust on top of deep powder all the way to the Yukon.  If this is true- with the recent snow, to boot- the trail just might get slower after more teams cross it along with all the snowmachines that will be moving up the trail with the leaders, their big paddle tracks tearing things up as well. 

Also, if any wind blows with the recent snowfalls the trail could drift in heavily. 

All in all this could work out great for Martin Buser... or it could totally backfire on him.  Only time will tell!

But I am pulling for it to work out!  I love the style of race Buser is running and feel that dogs prefer to run faster and rest longer than pull long slogs with less rest like the leaders were doing.  I think it is an attitude issue and is probably different for every musher and every team.  The down side is that dogs can get hurt more often when running faster so... it's up in the air which is "better" for the dogs.  Really they just love to run! No matter how!