Dashing Through the Snow

If you follow more than one mushing blog, you're probably reading the same thing over and over. This season has been pretty terrible. It seems like more races are being canceled than are actually taking place. We've been doing runs here and there, mostly on our local trail. Trips to the Pine Barrens have been tough, mostly due to not having a "handler" (AKA boyfriend) this season. 

My newly built trailer was about ready to haul my 90-pound rig down to the Pines this past weekend, but -- of course -- I didn't need it. We finally got some snow! Something like seven inches.

This was the first time I've had all three dogs pull the sled (last season Knox was still too little). They did great! They had no problem pulling me, but they got a workout while breaking trail and when I added a passenger to the sled. Our runs were brief with long breaks in between to avoid injury, and they were ready to run each time we hooked them back up.

I did some experimenting on the second day of sled runs. I had them run through an open baseball field to test Denali's commands. She wasn't really on her game, but I attribute that to her being tired and the snow being extra deep. After we broke a trail through the field, she ran it again with no trouble.

On our very last run, I bumped Knox up next to Denali. She was starting to lose focus, and having him next to her seems to spark her competitive nature and keep her sharp. Dexter still needs a running mate, though, so I don't think I'd do this permanently. Really, what I need is a fourth dog. One day!

2012-2013 Mileage to Date: 64.35

Nature's Fury

This season has been a crazy one so far, and it has nothing to do with the dogs. A few weeks ago we were blasted by Hurricane Sandy. We were left without power for several days. The streets and local trails were littered with downed trees and power lines. And with gas rationing and an empty tank, I couldn't drive elsewhere to train.

A week later, we were hit by a Nor'easter. As much as we love snow, it wasn't quite enough to do anything. It was a sloppy, slushy snow that began melting almost immediately -- so there was no time to take the sled out. Plus, the power went out again. Luckily, it was only for a few hours this time.

Right after the winter storm, a warm spell struck and I was out walking the dogs in shorts and short sleeves. Go figure.

Finally, it seems Mother Nature has calmed down for a bit. The temperatures are right where they should be for this time of year. I've managed to sneak in a few rig runs (between disasters), with the help of my mom or sister (whoever I could drag out with me).

The dogs are doing well, despite the gaps between runs. Denali's prey drive has noticeably toned down. At the end of today's run, my dad met us and ran alongside the team for the home stretch. Denali was digging down so hard and pulling with all her might -- it was awesome to see.

We will finally be going down to the Pine Barrens this weekend, for the first time this season. Expect lots of photos and hopefully some video of our run next week!

2012-2013 Mileage to Date: 30.48

Different Kinds of Training

Distance	Moving Time	Average Speed	Maximum Speed
1.76 miles	0:11.16	9.35 mph	16.78 mph

It's been almost two weeks since my last entry. Didn't mean to leave anyone hanging -- things have just been pretty boring around here. We've had above normal temperatures for awhile (almost 80 degrees last week), so no runs. Loose leash walk training is still happening, though. It's been going pretty well. Denali is already easing up with her pulling and trots very nicely during the last 10 - 15 minutes of each walk. Knox is a bit of a spazz, but he's also showing improvement. Dexter is back into his groove, nothing really to report.

This week, temperatures are returning to where they should be for the end of March, which means we should get more runs in. I managed to squeeze a quick run in yesterday with Denali and Knox. It makes me happy to see my puppies working so well together, but it's a little disappointing that Dexter doesn't just "click" like they do. He's been training the longest (although not by much), yet he doesn't take to it like the huskies do.

I can't blame Dexter. He wasn't bred to run and pull. Based on his day to day activities, it seems he was bred to be clingy and pee on stuff. He has the ability to run very well -- I've seen it. It's just a matter of motivating him to do so. He loves running in the Pine Barrens, or anywhere less familiar, for that matter. Part of me wants to "bench" him once I have more dogs, but I don't know if I could leave him behind. He's shown improvement with the addition of Knox to the team, so he may be just fine once I have four or six dogs. Time will tell.

Oh! I almost forgot. I signed up for Mushing Boot Camp this September! We'll be traveling to South Colton, NY for a few days in the woods. We'll be at the Call of the Wild facility, being instructed by some very knowledgeable folks. We're going to be working on Dexter's passing issues, as well as honing everyone's overall ability in harness. I've heard good things about this organization, so I hope to learn some techniques that I can use for years to come. I'll definitely have several blog entries devoted to my experience.

2011-2012 Mileage to Date: 125.22

70 Miles

Distance	Moving Time	Average Speed	Maximum Speed
1.83 miles	0:13.20	8.22 mph	12.75 mph

Our run today broke the 70 mile mark for training this season! Well, technically we were already over 70 -- there's been a run or two I forgot to record mileage for. But we'll pretend my numbers are totally accurate. Either way, pretty damn awesome! It should be fairly easy to make it to 100 miles before it gets too warm. Not bad for my team of newbies.

The weather has been pretty decent the past few days. Nice and cold without the biting winds. The muddy spots in the woods have been frozen for a few days now, which is nice. Parts of the Northeast will be seeing some snow tonight, but I'm pretty sure New Jersey will only get a few flurries. There's some hope for this weekend, although it could change over to mostly rain. Either way, I hope I can make it down to the Pine Barrens for a run.

Back to today's run: it when pretty well! I found that if I become Dexter's personal cheerleader, he runs a bit better. I yelled, "Dexter! Hike! Hike!" and waited for him to show any increase in speed/motivation. And I mean ANY. When he lifted his head and focused forward, instead of sniffing, praise. When he moved with Denali, instead of pulling away from her, praise. When his trot became a full run, praise. Repeated this non-stop for the entire run, and he seems to be doing a bit better. Or it might just be the colder temperatures that motivate him. Well, whatever it is, I'm not complaining.

2011-2012 Mileage to Date: 70.43