The Iditarod is fast approaching and we are excited!
This week we are taking all the dogs on their final runs and making last minute preparations for the race. Just like any elite athlete training for a big event, their final runs are not long training runs, rather shorter stretch-out runs as they taper off ready for the race start on Monday.
Our timetable for this week is as follows:
On Wednesday afternoon Aliy and Allen fly to Anchorage and attend sponsor events that evening.
Thursday morning is taken up with sponsor events and then musher meetings, while the dogs and the rest of the crew drive to Anchorage. Even though the re-start is in Fairbanks, every dog must be present in Anchorage for the final vet identification checks and the ceremonial start (not all dogs run in the ceremonial start but must be present none-the-less, this makes it fair on all teams whether they are locals or have travelled far).
On Thursday evening we attend the Iditarod Bib Draw and Starter’s Banquet at 6pm at the Dena’ina Center. At the same time the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame presents Aliy with the Trajan Langdon Award – we will split the crew between the two events.
On Friday we have some sponsor activities during the day then there will be a Meet and Greet with Aliy, Allen, a few dogs and the crew on Friday from 4.00-5.30pm at the Crowne Plaza. We look forward to meeting some of you there! After that, the crew then zooms off to attend another sponsor event in the evening.
Of course, in between all these events we feed, walk and spend quality time with the dogs!
Saturday morning is the Ceremonial Start on 4th Avenue. It starts at 10am but teams will be at their trucks in the surrounding area from about 8am. Drop by to say Hi! We always enjoy the Ceremonial Start as it is a celebration of the race and our dogs; fans, supporters and sponsors. We love to see everyone lining the streets waving and clapping and being as excited as we are about the start of the race.
On Saturday afternoon, once the Ceremonial run is complete, we all pile back into the trucks and head up the Parks Highway for home.
Sunday we’ll close the kennel to all visitors, phone calls, emails and other contact as we stretch out the dogs for their final short run and pack the trucks and sleds. This is “game face” time for the entire crew. We’ll give our canine and human athletes a nice dinner then let them get a good night’s rest. This year we are looking forward to having everyone be able sleep in their own beds the night before the race.
The race Re-Start is on Monday morning at 10am on (or near) the Chena River in west Fairbanks. We’ll maybe see some of you there!
The crew sees the team again at the Nenana checkpoint but after that Aliy, Allen and our canine friends are gone from us for a while. We will follow remotely by Iditarod Insider trackers and videos and from the reporters that are covering the race – just like you all.
Are you ready? We sure are!
Edit: we have just heard we do not have to take every dog to Anchorage for the ceremonial start. The ceremonial teams must be chosen from the 37 dogs we had vet checked but those dogs are not required to be in the re-start team on Monday. Once a dog has run for one musher on the ceremonial run they may not transfer to another musher – stay tuned as there may be some surprises in the Ceremonial squads! Team rosters will be posted the night before or the day of the race!
Thanks so much for the timeline!!!
Yes, that is what is so special about the Iditarod – it really show Alaska as the wild place that it is, wild and free and unspoiled nature.
Best of good luck to the Red and Black Teams, most sincely,
Margaret
Can hardly wait, good luck to everyone and safe dog sledding.
I am SO excited to join in on the festivities this year! Count us in at Anchorage AND the restart in Fairbanks! We certainly didn't plan on seeing so much of the interior but are excited for the opportunity! Safe travels to ALL!
I want to pass on my good wishes for a safe, successful and swift race to both the Red and the Black teams. This also extends to all the crew and handlers that work hard to assist the mushers and keep us fans up to date with photos videos and data.
Cheers to all
Heidi
Ok all, the time for the big event is here!!! I'm so very excited about this year Iditarod (well, and every other race you guys participate in as well).
Sounds like a very, very busy time for everyone in the kennel!!!Talk about 'working well under pressure'. You all, human and pups, excel at it!!!
Many congratulations on your award Aliy!!! You deserve it 1000% and more!!!
Best of luck, and enjoy the festivities!!!
Thank you for this great, informative post :):):)
This is so exciting! If I wasn't ready before this post, I am now. Good luck and I wish dogs, handlers, Aliy and Allen an awesome race. I will be watching from my office computer and home iPad.
First, congratulations, Aliy for your award. What an honor for you!
Secondly, I wish you and your team a safe race AND a first place finish. This is your year; I feel it ! Of course, I also hope for a good and safe race for the Black Team as well.
What I wouldn't give to be there to show my support!! Instead, I'll be glued to my computer and iPad cheering you all the way to Nome.
I have a question, though: will someone from SP Kennel let us know which 4-legged athletes are on the Red Team?
Thanks for the "edit" – to me, what this means is that it is likely that every dog of the 37 will participate in some way in the Iditarod – strutting their stuff on 4th Ave. or going the distance east-west across the great state of Alaska!!!
Woof, woof, woof!!!
What a busy week you all have. Thanks for the timetable. I am super, super excited for the Iditarod this year. Best wishes for both Red& Black Teams. Be safe and run swiftly. Congratulations. Aliy on the Trajan Langdon Award, well deserved. Am glad youare sending crew to both events. Nessmuk enjoy the Iditarod. Wish I was there to join in the festivities. & to meet you and other SPK fans. Oh how I would love to be at the meet and greet Friday. I hope that getting to sleep in your own beds Sunday night is a good luck charm to winning the Iditarod this year. Go Aliy & Red Team. And go Allen and the young Black Team, give them a very positive experience. It will soon be "game face" time and then the race. Go SPK.
Ditto to all the positive comments on this absolutely informative post.
and
Do it for YOU Aliy!
Thursday evening we attend the Iditarod Bib Draw and Starter's Banquet at 6pm
At the same time the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame presents Aliy with the Trajan Langdon Award
All mushers…must be present at the pre-race banquet on Thursday, March 5, 2015. Each musher will personally draw his/her starting position.
Hope Moira or Spencer get to accept the award for Aliy…
Best wishes for a very successful race to two of the best dog people and mushers in Alaska.
Wow, lots of places to be in such short time frames. Some day I hope to be able to take in the atmosphere, either at an ID or Quest and especially watch the SP Kennel in action. Blessings to everyone. I know that the journey is the prize but it is hard to not want the WIN! Get'm Aliy!
Here we go! Been exercising my right index finger for the refresh button.
Long practice last week, shorter runs now…but I think I'm ready too.
Go SP Kennels! Safe travels for you all. Routing for you all the way!
So wish I could spend my birthday tomorrow at the Mushers Banquet 🙂 Have a safe, FAST race.
Good Luck to Aliy and everyone! Stay safe, have fun, and we'll be thinking of you!
Steve & Sue Cripe, Indiana
Great info, thanks ! Thinking of you all right now… ♥