SPK Dog Log

It looks like the SPK Black Team was slightly off the pace between Sourdough and Lake Louise, taking seven minutes longer to make the run than the fastest team for that leg.

Overall, the Black Team remains almost an hour faster for total run time in the CB300:

Allen and the dogs have already left Lake Louise, after taking their final 30 minute rest. They will push straight through the final checkpoint at Tolsana with nothing to stop them until the finish line.

This “long final run” tactic is a hallmark of Allen’s CB300 racing strategy. In essence, the dogs have been on a “run six, rest six” schedule for the bulk of the race so far. Stopping for a snack at Lake Louise, the veteran dogs know that the finish line is just one more run ahead of them. You can bet they are motivated to get there as fast as they can!

It’s also a bit demoralizing for competitors to watch the SPK Black Team leave for the finish line with no rest time left to give, while they must still wait an hour — or more — to continue. Veteran fans know there’s a lot more to racing than just running dogs!

This has been an excellent CB300. We’re all cheering for Allen and the dogs to continue their fine, consistent performance, and hope to see them cross the finish line first!

Unofficially the Black Team checked in at 4:22AM and out at 4:52AM.

The handler crew arrived at the Lake Louise checkpoint with a couple of hours to spare and are now eagerly awaiting Allen and the team’s arrival. We have a good view over the lake of incoming headlights so will have plenty of time to prepare for their arriving.

Here are a few pictures of the team from Paxson and Sourdough checkpoints. Left: the team getting ready to leave Paxson, the team check in to Sourdough then Allen bootie-ing the team readying to leave Sourdough.

Will update you with Lake Louise times asap.

Allen and the Black Team left Sourdough Checkpoint unofficially at 22:08.

Allen Moore’s SP Kennel Black Team has turned in a third straight fastest run time for the leg from Paxson to Sourdough!

Despite arriving at Sourdough in fourth position due to longer accumulated rests, the Black Team is showing very consistent and very strong performance throughout the race so far. Overall, the Team is 50 minutes faster than the next fastest team.

The top contenders have all completed their mandatory 6 hour rests plus their starting differentials. The only differences now are in their accumulated rests and run times.

This is a very exciting race, and the SPK Black Team is doing very well. We wish all competitors — human and canine — a healthy, happy run to the finish!

Allen and the BLACK TEAM have departed Paxson checkpoint and are on the trail towards Sourdough. Seven teams left the checkpoint before them.

They arrived in the early hours of this morning and made the call to take their mandatory 6 hour layover PLUS an extra 64 minutes (to allow for the starting time differential) here.

Allen’s daughters Bridgett and Jennifer are here also and Bridgett caught the team’s arrival on film. You can hear her asking Allen some really good questions as she herself has run this race so knows the trail intimately.

At 10.15am the team left and those of you will eagle eyes will notice the team was down to 11 dogs. With one eye firmly on the rest of the racing season Allen decided to drop Tatfish as a precautionary measure. He was showing some minor signs of soreness so the difficult decision was made to leave him with us for the rest of the race. He will enjoy plenty of massages, fish snacks and loving!

We are on our way to Sourdough checkpoint shortly and there is no internet access there so we will try to get messages through to those back at the kennel.

It’s beginning to snow again, the temperatures are very warm and there is minimal wind.

Go team!

Good morning!

Using the most recent stats available from the CB300 website, here are the total run times for the first two legs of the race: Start – Chisto – Paxson

Although Allen’s SPK Black Team was the seventh to arrive in Paxson, his run time from Chisto was again the fastest in the field. The team has now run almost 30 minutes faster than the next fastest team over the combined two legs.

Already you can see a great example of how the “leader board” doesn’t necessarily reflect who is running fastest. The additional time that Allen rested the team in Chisto makes it look like he’s “behind” when he is in fact “ahead” and running very, very well!

I’ll try to keep up with these stats during the day, all relying on the CB300 folks being able to post updates (and trying not to be too distracted by the Seattle-Atlanta football game… Go Seahawks!)