Second Chance League

Manny took the team out for a run today. He decided to give them a change of scenery, so he skirted Jenny M hill and took the Rosser back to the Winter trail near Melan Drive, then ran the dogs back home via the Winter Trail/Baseline. He said the dogs did really well, driving hard and completed the run nicely with everyone on their tugs. He thought the run would be about the same distance as the previous Hill runs...but it turns out that the run today was about 20 miles. Jenny did very well in team, consistent as usual. She's becoming one of those "invisible dogs"..the type that work hard and run smooth all of the time, so that you don't need to worry about them. She's really a nice dog. Now if we can work her through her shyness....but hey, she could just be one of those dogs who never do quite warm up to people. We'll see.

I've decided to forgo the Gin gin this year. A number of factors add up to contribute to this decision, but mainly I don't feel that the dogs are ready for a run like that. I know they could do it; however, I don't want to push them too hard so early in the season. Still, I wish good luck to those who will be undertaking the race as it is this year and wish luck to the race organizers. It's no easy task to put on a race and takes loads of hard work and dedication.

So, we'll be running 2 teams in the Two Rivers Tune-up on Dec. 3rd. Manny will take a 10 dog, with Jenny on his team. I will take a 6 dog team, with Munchkin on that team. Then, on Dec. 17th I'll race in the Solstice 100. I plan to run Jenny in my 12 dog team for that race, which is a nice run out to Angel Creek, a layover, then a run back to Pleasant Valley Store. I encourage anyone who would like to, to come out and see us off. The race starts at 11am at Pleasant Valley store, then will run approx. 55 miles to Angel Creek Lodge where teams are required to take a 4 hour layover. After that, teams will leave Angel Creek to run approx. 45 miles back to the finish line at Pleasant Valley Store. So, if you are up to it, come on out, follow the race and support the dogs and their mushers. And while you're at it, have one of those dynamite Angel Creek Burgers! They're yummy! I know I'll be enjoying one. :o) I hope to see you out there!

For more info, visit www.trdma.org.

I may know how Jenny came to be a stray following a dog team down the Tanana River...she loves to eat necklines! She has destroyed not 1, but 2 cable lines. She likes to do this while we're hooking up. Manny ran the team on Monday, and he said he went through a couple of poly necklines with Jenny before he put another cable line on there.

Jenny is doing even better during chow times, as she's eating after we put the food in her bowl. She still wants us 'away' from her, but at least now she's eating while we're still outside. That's GREAT news!

Manny did a training run today, taking 13 dogs. Dutchess, our main leader (7 yrs) re-injured her shoulder the other day, so she's resting until it gets better. She had an injury like this a few years back, and with some anti-inflammatory/pain relieving meds and massages with Bigeliol, she was healed and racing within just a few weeks. I'm hoping the same happens, as she slipped on ice and doesn't seem to have majorly injured it...however, she is older, so we'll have to wait with baited breath. In the meantime, I'll be working with Jenny up front more, since we have to rely on other leaders.

Will be switching to sleds here in the next few days. Guess I should really fix that stantion that still has the tree that I used to repair it in the 2004 Two Rivers 200. (Tee hee hee!) Happy trails!

Stika

Well, our little shy girl is still doing well with the team. She's doing better eating her food and drinking her water (for a while there, she wouldn't eat and drink until we went in the house). We don't know what caused her to do this, but we're really glad that she's gotten back to normal. We're doing some longer runs up and over Jenny M hill now. Our main leader, Dutchess sustained a shoulder injury 2 weeks ago, so we've been rotating leaders on the runs. China, a great little dog we got from Eric and Stacy Lanser was running lead; but, she's been up there for a few runs and clearly told me that she'd like a break, thank you very much. So, I thought, what the heck...I've been meaning to try Jen-jen up front anyway. She wasn't to happy to have me messing with her, but I got her up in lead and we took off. Jenny is a steady mover and did well in lead, though she just wouldn't pick up, even with Reilly yanking on her to lope. I let her lead up and over Jenny M hill, then once we got back to the hayfields, I switched her out. I'm hoping to do some more leader work with her in the coming runs. Also, now that she's eating better, I think I'll take her on the Gin Gin 120 with me...though I'm not sure as that is a no dog drop race. We'll see how training goes over the next 3 weeks.

We picked up a new little guy from the shelter. His name was "Brownie", though we changed it to Viking. He was skittish a bit, at first; but, now he's really doing great. We had Dr. Jayne neuter him and remove dewclaws already, and he's done well after his procedures. We've been alternating between the pen, the heated garage and the house to get Viking aclimatized to the cold, since he was at the shelter for several weeks. Viking sure is a sweet heart who has learned "come" and "sit" and "go to bed" or "in the pen" very fast. Though we really weren't expecting to have a pup, we're so happy to have him. Particularly because we just lost our old siberian 2 days after Viking came to live with us. Her name was "Lady Stika Koani", a beautiful registered Siberian Husky. Stika was our very first husky, my first lead dog and one of the best friends I've ever had. She would've been 13 years old in January. I held her in my arms as she passed on and am thankful that I was able to be there for her, just as she'd always been there for me.

We love you Stika, and will forever carry you in our hearts.