New experiences

We have had very fickle weather causing changes in plans for racing season. We went to the Profile Falls 12.5 mile fun run this past Saturday and did very well placing 3rd for that day. We decided to not go back for Sunday to get some more training miles on the dogs. I also had a hard time with dogs running in lead Saturday; I ended up putting Carmine and wheel dog Dubs in lead. Sunday, Lee ran the team about 20 miles starting from Little River State Park. He had some difficulties. Ellie after some head on passes Saturday that didn't go very well decided she is not going to pass anything. anymore. end of story. So Carmine is out of team and in lead. He has been doing well but does not know any turning commands. Munchkin chewed 4 necklines on the run. First set when hooking up. Lee found a snowmobiler that had gone down an embankment ( really far down!) and stopped to help out when Munchkin chewed away her second set of necklines for the day...

I felt really bad so Lee, and a little guilty. I had a fricken BLAST on Sunday. I took Deklyn our lab border collie mix and our two 7 mo old puppies SKIJORING! In the past I have avoided my cross country skis like the plague, I fall constantly. So i adapted and overcame. I grabbed my down hill skis and went for it. Sure they are heavy and are more work up hills but I figured the puppies would be up for it. AND THEY WERE! They pulled me up every hill and I got some sweet powder turns down all the ungroomed down hills! I had so much fun we went out twice. The second time without Deklyn. He was uber slow and was not into the exercise....so lazy.

Puppy's Running in December

This is a little video of the puppies at just over 6 months old rearing to go! Carmine( Brown) and Ellie (white) in Lead and Henry ( white) and Suzie ( brown) in Wheel. Henry gets a little tangled up here but is starting to get it!

Race Schedule

So it is starting! We only have about 350 training miles on so far, mostly are 10 mile runs with just a few 15- 20 mile runs in there. Weather in late December was all over the place and with the holidays and work schedules getting any kind of training in was a challenge. This weekend we are going to our first race format event. Our season opener was to be Eagle Lake but it was canceled do to lack of snow, they haven't recovered from the New Years rain drenching. The 12.5 mile fun run will be great to get the dogs into the swing of things! Then we are going to be busy!

Jan 15/16 - Eagle Lake 30 - Canceled

Jan 15 - Profile Falls Fun Run in Hill Village, NH

Jan22/23 - Stratford Nighthawk 15/15 in Stratford, NH

Feb 5 - Wilderness 30 in Greenville, ME

Feb 19 - Sandwich Notch 20 or 45 not decided yet. Sandwich, NH

March 5 - Can- Am 30 in Fort Kent, ME

On a side note the puppies are definitely loving running. Last weekend we kept our runs to 8 miles so the pups could join us. They have NO problems running that far even though they are loping the hole way. Henry really likes getting his wrists rubbed down afterwards too (liniment oil as a preventative)! Suzie is a total screamer and throws temper tantrums if we leave her behind. Lee has had it with her ear spliting screams and asked that I "PLEASE JUST TAKE THEM!!!!" They will be ready for sure to be apart of an 8 dog team ready to tackle some longer distances!!!! 60s here we come!