Of course I run my team regardless, kinda like showing dogs. What I have to be aware of, if I have an intact male in lead he may double back on the team (depending on how ready she is), so i'll put my females up front and the males in further back. As long as I'm with the team, I'm in control. Of course one of my friends lost her team in a race, she had a bitch in standing season...when she found her team it was a major tangle and a tie- she bred a litter on the trail OOPS!

HuskyMom09 wrote:

Of course I run my team regardless, kinda like showing dogs.  What I have to be aware of, if I have an intact male in lead he may double back on the team (depending on how ready she is), so i'll put my females up front and the males in further back.  As long as I'm with the team, I'm in control.  Of course one of my friends lost her team in a race, she had a bitch in standing season...when she found her team it was a major tangle and a tie- she bred a litter on the trail  OOPS!

At least she knew who the daddy was! Hopefully one of her own and she had the pedigree.

The scenery on this trail is beautiful

Oh yes, it was definitely her own dogs with very nice pedigrees. They just made their own breeding plans that year LOL- the litter was really quite nice.

Pics from the Priest Lake Races 2015

Good dogs Hike Hike Hike!!

Keegan has completed our 8 dog line with his first run in harness today! Gosh I am so impressed with the amount of natural talent he brought to the line! I don't think I've truly stopped smiling since our run

A few still shots-

Lani, I am so happy for you! Keegan looks AMAZING on the team. Great run. Can't wait to see more from you guys.

If all goes according to plan next training season, our future running will be much different than what we have been doing

How are you going to shake up your training?

We are going to start training for distance races next year. Sprints are fine and dandy, but not where my interests were when I started thinking about getting into running dogs. I got swooped up by some wonderful mentors, unfortunately they are sprint mushers, and a totally different running style than what we need to be doing.

Do you know anyone who does distance?

I do I'll be relying a lot on communications via Facebook and a bit of figuring it out on my own. BUT after being at Race To The Sky and watching the mushers set up pre-race, I have a much better idea of the direction I need to be headed.

What is the distance goal you hope to reach race wise? And how different is it?

I'd like to run a couple of the 100mi races around us- Vs the sprints we're currently running (4-8 miles). You don't want your dogs to burn themselves out right out of the chute you want to slow them into a lope/working trot sooner and hold them there.

I could not imagine doing 100 miles! Very awesome that you are going to be changing up the types of racing you are doing though.

Team looks great! Looking forward to seeing your progress as you build them up to distance running. If you are looking for more long-distance mentors there are some great folks out here in New England who are experienced in mid-distance and distance. Jaye Foucher of Sibersong Sleddogs comes immediately to mind.

Its all good I have a number of distance mushers in my back yard (so to speak) just over the mountains in MT-

A beautiful training run in Idaho today! The team is looking great and having fun as we count the days until Mother Nature cranks up the heat and takes our trail time away-

That is some beautiful scenery! Also, Team Keahi looks like they're having a blast!

Yesterday's training run in Spirit Lake ID was a blast Keegan is really adapting to his latest role! He's been a fantastic addition to the team!

Wonderful pictures! Is that...bare ground I see I don't seem to recognize that surface

Yes, our winter has been anything BUT winter! UGH! I can count on one hand how many times I've been on the runners of my sled we're headed off to MT this weekend for one last trip on snow before the season ends entirely. Haven't quite decided who is on the team for that race, but stay tuned!

I know a few people from Massachusetts who would gladly trade...as well as my Ostrich son with the 150' driveway and no snowblower, no plow, and working out of town most of the winter with a wife at home

Good luck on your MT run. I like your new signature!

Quick video of our run at the Flathead Classic. Most likely our last run on snow this year. It was hard and fast, the course was uniquely challenging, but overall it was an amazing time