Not every Iditarod dog musher finds choosing their final 14 racers an emotionally draining decision, but I’ll be honest… I do.
Only 14. Only 14 of my best buddies who have all trained, pulled and run many miles this season will make the final team that gets to experience the adventure of a lifetime. They get to travel new trails, smell amazing scents, lift their legs on infinite bushes and see the amazing Arctic world. They don’t know what’s going to happen out there (neither do I) but, by golly they are excited to go.
The 30 SP Kennel Racers are standing here in Two Rivers ready: chests puffed out and howling: “Pick Me! Pick Me!” It’s like asking your Labrador retriever, “Do you want to go for a car ride?” Duh!?! As your Lab stands there drooling on the floor, “Open the car door… OHHHHHHH! Open the door!”
So how can I possible choose 14 dogs from a pool of 30 who want to go?
First of all, I look at any dogs that have small bumps and bruises that might become large if they were asked to race 1,000 miles. Sadly, I do have a five dogs that are benched.
Commando finished the Yukon Quest in style but came home with a sore wrist. Since then he has run only one short fun run. He has been pouting and I try not to look at him when I harness up a team. I am sad to say he is heartbroken. He loves to race.
Clyde also came off the Yukon Quest with a soreness. Strangely, only his paws were sore – the rest of him looks GREAT. But the sugar snow conditions seemed to have dried out the webbing between his pads. No one wants to run with sensitive feet. Foot ointment and salve will solve this issue, but not in time to race Iditarod 2020.
Gold has a coin-sized bruise on his paw pad. It might have started as a small blister on the YQ300, but I only noticed it when he favored his foot after a 45 minutes stretch out run. Obviously Gold can’t run on a bruised pad. This would have been his first Iditarod.
Champ continues to has sensitive ‘manly parts’ in chilly temps. I think I have learned my lesson: when Champ goes on a race the temperatures drop to -40F (or colder). So the big, sexy black boy will sit this Iditarod out.
The big one – that really breaks my heart – is my one and only, Mismo. If you have been following the SPK season then you know that he drug Karolyn and the YQ300 team up over Rosebud, up Eagle Summit and down Birch Creek (twice) and looked no worse for the wear. After that he trained with the main Iditarod team, went to Blood Draws and EKGs (and passed) and then was in lead two days ago on a 100 mile training run. We always do a long training run exactly one week before the race starts so that we simulate race conditions. He looked 100% for the 100 miles. I was thrilled. The next morning he was standing awkwardly on his wrist. Darn it if he didn’t somehow twist his wrist either at the end of the run or after the run. So, at this moment… only 5 days before the start… it looks like Mismo will not be on my team.
There are two main racers that were benched earlier in the season: Driver and Nomex. Both dogs are currently 100% healthy. They are delighted to be running again as both will vocally share at harness time. But, I’ll be honest, both dogs have sat out enough time and training miles that they cannot realistically keep up with a race team that expects to do 100 miles a day. Driver has only 45% of the seasonal miles that his sister, Chipper, has at this time. I am truly disappointed that neither of these Rock-Stars will be on the team this year. I will miss them lots.
Next I look an individual dog’s overall fitness in comparison to the team they will be running on. It is best if teammates match as much as possible, so that one dog is not a lot slower or not able to stay strong through longer miles. They also need to rest well and eat well. What is their body weight now and what has it been when they were at their most fit? In order to look at this data in depth, I look at my detailed training log that I keep throughout the season. Who did what distance training run at what speed and endurance? And how did they do? How much do they weigh now as well as earlier in the season? Who continues to eat well?
The most fit dogs are, without a doubt, the dogs that just completed the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest. What about the dogs that finished the 300 mile YQ? How do they compare? And what about the Copper Basin 300 dogs?
While Bronze did in fact come to the finish line of the YQ300, she did so in the sled bag. She only rode for a short distance, but she was tired. She even fell asleep. Bronze needs to finish strong in a 300 mile race before she will be part of my Iditarod team.
Cayenne is Cayenne. It’s hard not to root for her. She a sassy little punk. I was surprised to hear that Karolyn actually carried her in her sled bag on the YQ300 as well. Did her leg cramp? Was she tired? Or did she just like riding in the cozy bag? I don’t know the answer to those questions. The other mark against her is that she is a picky eater. She is on the slender side. Cayenne will not be on the team.
Peach also finished the YQ300. She enjoyed her race and will be ready to run more… in the future. The major issue that Peach has, is that she does not rest well. I kept watch on Karolyn’s team in the YQ300 Checkpoints and Peach would stay awake, sitting up, watching all of the exciting commotion around her. Sometimes falling asleep while sitting up. (Then toppling over.) She went on the 100 mile training run a few days ago and during my 2 hour rest stop, she sat up and watched the wind rush through the nearby bushes for almost 2 hours. While this is adorable… it does not make her rise to the top of my “should go on Iditarod 2020” list.
Sanka is one of my favorites. She started the racing season strong. She did well on the CB300 and then had a strong YQ300. But she went through a phase between the two races when she seemed tired and ‘out of sorts.’ The only way to get her out of her funk was to take her out on short runs with a small teams and just have fun. Sometimes we all need to put a little fun in our lives again in order to get back after it. Well, I feel like that’s what Sanka needs again now. I don’t think she would enjoy the 1,000 mile race. I don’t want a dog out there with me who doesn’t want to be there. So she will stay at the kennel and do fun runs with the rest of the crew.
The remaining 19 dogs are ready to race Iditarod 2020. I turned in my Official Iditarod 20 Dog Selection MicroChip Sheet (I added Mismo at #20… just in case a miracle happens.)
But… “Ready to Race”… what does that mean this year? What type of snow conditions, race course hurdles and weather predicaments will we find ourselves in? Deep snow, wind, drifting trail? Now I must make my best guess about which dogs are best suited to race with me on Iditarod 2020 in these particular conditions? As of today, there are still 19 dogs of which I will choose my 14 teammates. I have two more training runs and the Ceremonial 11-mile run through Downtown Anchorage in order to make my final selection.
Here they are:
- Dutch
- Amber
- Kodiak
- Razz
- Sparky
- Chipper
- QT
- Chevie
- Five
- Rodney
- Jefe
- Bruno
- Scooby
- Violet
- Decaf
- Cloud
- Junior
- Perky
- Iron
How heart-wrenching it must be to make that list…but I say again, this is why we love SPK. The care and thought that go into these decisions is not made lightly, and in reading, I can feel your sadness and disappointment. No dog goes if not ready, period. Take that PETA! And Alaska Airlines! Woof, run, eat, rest, woof, run, lather, rinse, repeat.
After your descriptions even I’m sad for the ones who stay home! God bless your race Aliy. We’re cheering for you and your team!
I read your post with bated breath until I saw Dutch’s name on the “Going to Anchorage list.”
I bet that handsome lad is looking forward to seeing Nome again.
I fell in love with him when I first saw his puppy picture and I feel so fortunate to be his sponsor.
GO DUTCHMAN
Wow! What a bittersweet read. It’s so reassuring to hear about the top notch dog care that SPK employs with their canine athletes but I’m so disappointed to hear of so many 1000-mile savvy veterans are out of the running. And Blue Steel especially- what a blow! Keep you head up COMMANDO- you’re “The Man!” Gotta believe this will be an opportunity for other kennel mates to step up to the plate. SPK rocks! I’m sure Aliy and her chosen 14 will answer with their usual resolve and resilience. Go Red Team❣
Hopefully all the pups staying home will have a great time on fun runs.
I hope you get all the insight you need before race morning so you know exactly who has the strengths that you will need for this years Iditarod conditions.
Monica will try to find your Matson friends for the Ceremonial Start. Sure wish I could be there. On the up side I do have a brand new grandson here to teach all about Aliy and the Iditarod next week. 🙂
It’s getting so exciting!!!
Aliy–
You know what? You have so much 4-legged talent (less experience, of course) in the healthy bunch listed above… this could still be the year!!! And if not, we’re still thrilled to be getting our refresh fingers, rally caps and SP Kennel gear at the ready…
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Hoping you are healthy, too!!! Have a blast and enjoy every mile knowing you are making sharing your experience a blast for all of us who love SP Kennel!!!
GO SP KENNEL!!! GO RED TEAM!!!
Great write-up, Aliy. I hope putting this all in a post helps lessen the anxiety of making your choices. I’m Sanka’s sponsor, and even though I’m disappointed she’s not able to go, I think I’m almost more disappointed about Mismo…..and feel for you having to make that decision. He has been such a rock solid sled dog all these years and will be missed (hoping that miracle happens). Thanks for taking the time to give your fans the run down on why those dogs are staying home. It’s all very understandable. Go SPKennel!
Darn those little injuries! Bummer about all the great dogs who will sit this one out…but kudos to SPK for having a deep bench of talented sled dogs to step up to the challenge! Now who will those 14 be…time will tell! Hope all the dogs left at home have fun in the yard or out for fun runs!
Ditto on Dawn E. And Cindy S. Response! Commando and then Mismo you are so true to your dogs and know what is best. I ran into a truck driver in Yes, Arkansas a few years ago and while talking to him he had heard of SP
Kennel and their fabulous dog care! Word gets
around and be proud of it Aliy!!! Go girl—you
Are one tuff cookie! We all love SPK!! Go Win It with a SMILE!!
I have been out of the loop as you have begun to prepare again for the big event due to work commitments.
This is a lot of detail, record keeping and an analysis challenge to go through. Thanks for sharing your view point and criteria insight and process established that you walked us through.
So excited for you and the entire SP Kennel team!!
I am happy to see Kodiak on the list again and hope he makes you proud!
Aliy,
Best to you and your buddies. I will be rooting for SPK from southern California.
KB
My students are pumped and ready, but will be sad to hear our Commando is not making the trip. We’ll be cheering you and the team on! How we love your positive #Aliy-tude! Good luck!
~Mrs. Price’s Third Graders, Missouri
I had a good morning laugh over Peach toppling from where she sat – actually, still am.
It does seem like it is perhaps the natural changing of the guard – but you do have all stars from Olivia, Nacho, Chica, Biscuit, and Quito. Then there’s Razz & Cloud – outlanders, but appear to be fitting in nicely.
Touching the way you describe those that can’t go. Even though I don’t know the dogs intimately, from watching the videos and your descriptions, I have developed several favorites on that list that won’t be making it.
Lots of tracker watching for me this year. (My son-in-law is starting to show his meddle now that they are through the very soft, deep snow in the lowlands. I am sure he is looking forward to the cold of the Interior).
Go Aliy! Go SPK! Go Red Team! I am following as usual and getting excited to see who gets to go. Thank you sooooo much for sharing these decisions with us. Aliy, it’s a real tribute to you and Allen and everyone at SPK that you STILL have, like Nessmuk said, such a “deep bench.” Un-freaking-believable. Over many generations of 4-leggeds now. Unlike some racing kennels, you train the dogs 365 days unless you’re in a race at the time; and maybe even then there’s training going on? Every interaction is a training moment. This can be done but it takes soooooo much practice, patience, dedication and, quite honestly, for lack of a better word? Love. From everyone who interacts with these amazing animals. Over and over and over. Day in and day out. The love and care you show for your charges is exemplary. And it comes shining through every time you and Allen talk about your dogs. And comes shining through how well you all do in races. Be proud of that, that undying commitment to training the 4-leggeds to the very best of their ability. And taking the very best care of them at the same time. I’m proud to be an SPK fan, like I’m sure everyone else here is, too. ps – Go Violet, you amazing little wheel dog!! You have my heart!
Oh Aliy you can always count on my unwavering support every year. I know all your Red Team would turn inside and lavender for you no matter who you choose. I’d feel more comfortable with the “usual suspects” in harness BUT The Iditarod isn’t about comfort it’s about grit and heart and you and the dogs are one in heart. I can almost hear the grumbling of the “walking wounded” from here. Have a safe, swift and successful race Sweet Lady!!! Come on Mismo! <3