SPK Dog Log

Sorry for the delay folks, a lot of things happening at the same time!

Some of you might have seen on the Yukon Quest official stats that Allen dropped a dog at Carmacks – I can confirm it was little I.V. She was displaying some signs of soreness and, as you know, at SP Kennel the health and welfare of the dogs is always more important than any race so Allen decided to leave her with us. There is still some racing to be done this season so he decided it was better to let her rest and recover. She did awesomely up to that point and she is going to be just fine – we’re enjoying her company!

Allen left Carmacks at 5.21pm with Scout and Beemer still in lead and 11 great looking dogs behind them. We caught up with him briefly at the McCabe Creek dog drop – there are no official times for McCabe Creek as it isn’t an official check point but he is through and on his way to Pelly Crossing. The dogs still look really good, in fact some of them were none-too-pleased with him stopping briefly at McCabe, with several turning around to look at him with a “What’s going on? C’mon!!!” look on their face.

Below is video of Allen leaving Carmacks and “blowing through” McCabe dog drop. Just listen to Scooter as they leave Carmacks, just like her papa Ranger!

Aliy and team arrived in Carmacks at 4.51pm while Allen was still there so they were able to have a quick catch-up. Aliy is engaged in a particularly interesting battle currently with Michelle Phillips so we are all watching intensely. No official out times for them but they have both left there and are on their way to Pelly Crossing. I completely missed Aliy’s arrival as I was busy getting I.V. comfortable in the truck but I’m sure you understand – the dogs come first here 🙂 Everyone else who saw them said they are looking strong.

Ryne and the R&B team are on their way to Carmacks, she still has all 12 dogs. She is running a very different run/rest schedule to Aliy as she has the yearlings on the biggest race of their lives so far so is resting longer and more often. We’re sorry we don’t get to see them but by all accounts they are doing a fantastic job!

There has been light snow falling on and off for most of the day so the trails are pretty soft, it is also very warm! We are going to try to catch 40 winks while keeping an eye on the trackers! Hope you are enjoying following along – it’s nice for us to know you are all there with us!

A yippy-yappy black team checked into Carmacks at 12.31pm Sunday. Allen and dogs are resting here for a while so the usual checkpoint routine has been followed so far: for the dogs it’s snacks, straw, de-bootie, sleep; for Allen it’s dogs first, eat, then get some sleep for himself. Allen said the trails had soft snow and there were some patches of overflow at various points on the trail but the team negotiated them all really well.

Aliy and the Red team are on their way to Carmacks after checking out of Braeburn at 7.51am. Ryne and the Red and Back team are currently in Braeburn resting.

PS – Just in: Ryne and R&B checked out of Braeburn at 3.30pm with all 12 dogs, the yearlings are looking good!

The Black team handler crew have just arrived in Pelly. I’ve some pics and video to edit so will get that to you asap, in the meantime here are some of my favourite pics from day one!

Aliy and Allen with Quito (photo credit: Ryne)

L-R: Bib #11; Nacho and Beemer wearing their promotional Yukon Quest booties; Allen in “the zone.”

L-R: Aliy and Meghan doing final preparations; Aliy in “the zone;” the handler crew look on.

L-R: Black team line-up; Boris ready and waiting

L-R: Kristina and Ryne; the Black team’s dog tags.

Allen and the Black Team were the first team into Braeburn at 11.31pm last night and they did look good! They stayed for a little over their mandatory four hours (plus 45 minute time differential from the start) and hit the trail for Carmacks at 4.20am this morning.

Allen said the trail was “punchy” (soft) for the first half and it started “setting up” (getting faster) as they approached Braeburn. They all ate super well, slept well despite teams pulling in and out around them and they were rearing to go! I managed to capture them leaving.

Whilst Allen was preparing to leave, Aliy and the Red team also pulled into Braeburn at 3.40am – just two minutes behind Michelle Phillips. She is really happy with the way the team is running. She has left Braeburn but at the time of writing I cannot find an official out time for her.

We are at Carmacks and have caught some sleep ourselves and now we are expecting them to arrive “soon” (we’re glued to the tracker and the little jumping dogs also).

PS – Aliy checked out of Braeburn at 7.51am

A number of you SP Kennel fans have asked via comments, email, Facebook, etc, whether we’ll be giving you any “race analysis” during the Yukon Quest. The short answer is: “Sorry, no.”

We were “green lighted” by Aliy and Allen to give you some analysis during the CB300 because it is such a straightforward race: Run, Rest at checkpoint, Run, Rest at checkpoint, Run, Rest at checkpoint, Run to the finish. All of the top teams took the same, minimum/mandatory rest at checkpoints. Speed between checkpoints was the only real factor. We were comfortable giving you that analysis.

The YQ is an entirely different race. It’s so long — and so far between checkpoints — that virtually every team will have a different strategy for when to rest, where to rest and how long to rest. Teams will rest between checkpoints, making run times in between almost irrelevant. Their individual strategies are a crucial part of their competitive profile, and considering how many great dog teams are in this race, musher strategy may very well be the deciding factor in finishing order.

To analyze the SPK Black Team’s strategy and performance — in this wide-open, internet venue — would greatly compromise its competitive advantage. As you know, last year’s difference between first and second place was 26 seconds. There’s no way we’re going to take a chance of “spilling the beans” about what the team is up to.

That said, I can tell you this: SP Kennel has the best dogs it has ever had. Allen is a fierce competitor who works harder than any musher on the trail. This is his third time running the YQ, with a sixth place finish in his rookie year and a second place finish last year. You do the math!

Sorry, but we’re just not gonna talk about it. Besides, you are all the best informed, most knowledgeable mushing fans on the planet. Watch this DogLog carefully, monitor the YQ site and Facebook stream, bang the heck out of the refresh button on the tracker, draw your own conclusions and hang on for dear life!

I’m already on caffeine overload, and it’s only the first day of the race. I expect to get nothing else accomplished this week. I look forward to talking about it after it’s over!

The handler crews have arrived at Braeburn Lodge and now we hurry up and wait for our mushers (and maybe partake in the giant cinnamon buns!).

In the meantime, enjoy the video from the start line earlier today; these dogs are amped!

(And did you hear? The spkdoglog.com gets a mention)

Aliy and Ryne left the start chute at 3.10pm and 3.30pm respectively. Don’t they all look awesome, psyched and ready to go! And check out Dingle’s smile!

Allen and the Black team looked FANTASTIC as they left the Yukon Quest starting chute at 11.30am today. They are now on the trail on their way to Braeburn where we will catch up with them again.

Aliy and the Red team and Ryne with the Red and Black team hit the trail later this afternoon.

More pics and videos soon.