SPK Dog Log

If you watched the live feed of the Ceremonial Start, you got to see both teams looking great as they approached the line and flawlessly start their runs.

For the Red Team, Waylon got the most air time and surely captivated the audience with his piercing blue eyes. Aliy gave her typically cheerful and enthusiastic interview, at one point even asking Nacho to answer the reporter’s question!

Allen checked in with his leaders, Dingle and Beemer, while the camera caught every move. His daughter Bridgette was close by to lend a hand, with her son looking on from above. In the background, you can see Moira hustling to grab a last-minute photo before jumping on the runners. What a team effort!

The Ceremonial Start run will take an hour or so, after which the dogs will be pampered as usual before settling down for the night. As soon as she can, Moira will post an update with media for you to enjoy… Stay tuned!

We are just minutes away from the 2014 Iditarod Ceremonial Start!

Mostly for reasons of keeping the dogs’ power under control, each team will consist of only 12 dogs for the Ceremonial Start, rather than the full complement of 16 dogs who will start the actual race tomorrow.

In addition, each team will pull two sleds with mushers and IditaRiders on board. Even with all that weight, the dogs will be so amped up that it will still be hard to keep them under control!

The SPK Red Team will start with Aliy at the helm and Meghan on the tag sled. Allen will skipper the SPK Black team with Moira hanging on for dear life behind him.

According to Iditarod rules, the 12 dogs that run the Ceremonial Start may only run for the same musher in the race. So, although there are still a few roster slots up for grabs, this will give you a pretty good idea of what the final teams will look like:

This Iditarod promises to be as exciting as ever and always… Stay tuned!

Earlier this evening several hundred people came to the Clarion Suites to meet and greet Aliy, Allen and the rest of the team. We heard stories from the trail including the time Aliy had to fashion mukluks 50 miles from Nome from her brand new pants and dog jackets and the time Allen had to carry each member of his team individually up Eagle Summit in his first Yukon Quest.

L-R: Aliy talks about leggings and jackets; Allen describes Eagle Summit.

They spoke about their sleds and the mandatory gear they have to carry for the Iditarod and explained some of the equipment the dogs wear out on the trail including jackets, booties and leggings. Everyone then got to meet Quito, Mac, Ranger and Honda. I’m sure those that were there won’t mind me saying but there was an audible gasp of admiration as Quito was introduced. She really is a special dog.

Thank you to Clarion Suites for hosting the event and to all those who came out tonight.

When ever anyone from the SP Kennel crew, human or canine, comes to Anchorage we stay at the Clarion Suites or the Quality Suites..

The Clarion is one of our Lead Dog sponsors and the Quality Suites a Team Dog sponsor. They are always so welcoming and treat the team like royalty! We really do feel at home when we stay.

Today we got a chance to thank them for everything they do for us.

The staff in the hotels also personally sponsor Scruggs so he said thanks too (and “checked-in to the Quality Suites)!

L-R: the Clarion Suites Team; the Quality Suites team

This evening at 6-7pm Aliy and Allen hold a public meet-and-greet at the Clarion so if you are in the Anchorage area please swing by – we’d love to meet you!

Last evening the crew attended the Iditarod start and bib draw banquet at the Dena’ina Center along with a couple of thousand others! We were entertained by Hobo Jim and we learned about some race history before each musher drew their starting position.

L-R: Aliy meets a young fan; Aliy is interviewed for Channel 11.

Heading down the trail to Nome with bib number 10 is Aliy and the Red Team. Leaving the starting chute just 18 minutes behind her with bib number 19 is Allen and the Black Team.

A shout out to the children from selected schools nationwide (from Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey and Michigan) who made all the table place settings. We were lucky to get these fantastic dog chew toys – thank you!

The rest of the team, human and canine, arrived in Anchorage this afternoon after a uneventful drive down the Parks Highway.

Scenic stop on the Parks Highway

Once they got to the Clarion Suites we gave the dogs a meal, a walk around the parking lot to orientate themselves and they even had a “we’re here!!!” howl (the dogs, not the humans).

One of our favourite parts is to see long-time dog sponsors meet their dogs! This afternoon Neil and Charlotte Frick met their Pud and Ann Shillington got to meet Scout. Thanks Neil, Charlotte, Ann and all our dog sponsors for supporting our athletes! We really appreciate you.

Neil and Charlotte meet Pud, Ann meets Scout

For many years Eagle Pack has been one of SP Kennel’s Lead Dog sponsors. We are so grateful for the ongoing support they show our kennel and this morning we got to spend some time with some representatives, employees and distributors at a special Iditarod breakfast in Anchorage. We are proud and excited to be associated with such a great brand!

L-R: Aliy, Allen, Al Townsend (Eagle Pack’s head veterinarian), Martin Buser, DeeDee Jonrowe and Karen Ramstead

All our dogs, from the time they are weaned from their momma, through their racing careers then including their retirement years, thrive on Eagle Pack dog food. We wouldn’t feed them anything else!

With just a few days to go until the Iditarod starts we thought you’d like to know what happens from now.

Wednesday: in the morning the teams will have a short, final stretch out run; this is important as they won’t get to run again until Saturday morning. After that is a final sled and truck check then Aliy and Allen travel down to Anchorage to attend some sponsor events on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

Thursday: Aliy and Allen have musher meetings for most of the day. The dogs and rest of the crew drive to Anchorage in time for the Start and Bib Draw banquet on Thursday evening.

Friday: in the morning the team makes more sponsor visits before the Meet-and-Greet at the Clarion Suites (our home away from home) from 6-7pm. This is a free event and open to anyone that would like to come.

Saturday: at 10am we’re all involved with the Ceremonial Start in downtown Anchorage.

Sunday: at 2pm is the Re-start in Willow. Aliy, Allen and 32 dogs are on the trail towards Nome!

Photo: Sebastian Schnuelle

The Iditarod is different to the Yukon Quest and the Copper Basin in that, as handlers, we are not able to go from checkpoint to checkpoint to follow the teams. This means we cannot bring you our own photos and videos from the trail. We will be relying on other sources, just like you, to get our information and we’ll do our best to summarise and consolidate information about the Red and Black teams and bring it to you here.

If you are not already an Iditarod Insider we would recommend joining – you can follow the GPS trackers and see exclusive videos from the crew that follows the teams down the trail.

Other sources of information will be the Anchorage Daily News, The Alaska Dispatch and, of course, the Iditarod Website and Facebook page.

We’re excited!!! How about you?