MY FIRST 200 MILES RACE DONE
MY FIRST 200 MILES RACE DONE,
Well what a week end…. Thursday we spend most of the day packing the food drop for the race. Friday evening was the musher meeting we slept in our Van in Seeley Lake instead of going back to Lincoln (1h30mn drive one way).
Saturday the race stared at 8am. I was number 4 and Jacques 10. I passed the teams in front of me after 45mn the start then I was opening the trail, it was snowing and the trail was soft and deep. Then Jacques passed me about 1h30mn after I started. Jacques arrived the first one in Owl Creek I was behind him (45mn) then Doug arrived then Mel. Jacques left the Owl creek after his 4hr mandatory stop at 5:47, Doug was 10mn behind him then Mel 15mn after and I was 10mn behind Mel. The run from Seeley was about 5hr for the first team; I was about 5hr 30mn.
The run from Owl Creek back to Seeley was all a night run it was faster because it cold down and the trail was packed from all the teams that was running the race. For Jacques and Doug the return trip to Seeley was about 4hr 45mn.
In Seeley we had a 6hr mandatory the routine of distance Mushing was on arrive, feed dog, give them Hay, take care of feet or other injuries get to sleep and get some rest.
I arrived just in front of Melanie like 30 seconds….
I have a hard time with sleep depravation so when I get tired I don’t eat I just want to sleep!
Mel and I were having fun being together! I dropped Zircon and Egypt in Seeley Zircon has a small feet crack and didn't’t run right. Egypt seems to have a sour wrist so I decided to rest them. Mel was also running 10 dogs. Jacques and Doug both had 12 dogs team screaming to go… We were heading for a 80 miles run heavy snow and wind were in for the day… It was SLOW and HARD GOING!!!! I MEAN SLOW!!! I had to kick DOWNHILL to keep going…. After about 30/35 miles we went thought a meadow that was really punchy and Hercules fell off the trail and hurt his right shoulder. I had to load him and he is about 55 pounds (my biggest dog n the team) so this REALLY slow me down, I was no far from Mel until I loaded him then I was all by myself on the trail in heavy wet snow in strong WIND…
I did the 80 miles in 9hr Jacques, Doug and Mel were about 8hr. During this run I switch leader because it was so hard going… I removed Memphis to give her a break and used Pyramid with Jenny then Jenny got tired of it so I had Onyx with Pyramid for about 25 miles then before the finish I put back Memphis with Pyramid so make sure I go through people and trucks.
Doug won the race just in front of Jacques. Jacques was in lead until few yards from the finish line, they were opening trail and our dog found fresh White Tail deer and got off the trail Doug passed Jacques, Doug waited for Jacques and Jacques told Doug to go in front and the two teams came one in front of the other.
This was a great learning experience but I am not sure I like DISTANCE Mushing I have high respect for all the musher but I don’t really like doing it!!!! I am very proud of my team and Jacques team’s of course. I lost weight since beside couple cookies and hand full of Gummy Bears I didn't’t eat anything for over 2 days.
After the race banquet we headed back to Lincoln knowing of nd heavy snow storm happening there, 2 miles from Doug and Mel’s house Warren Palfrey (musher from Yellowknife also staying at Swingley’s place) was stuck off the road with his 20ft goose neck trailer, his big dodge truck couldn't’t pull it… we spend 2hr working on it ended up unloading dog food and meat to allow the truck to pull the trailer in deep wet snow drift. We chained up the van and follow then after we go to move. Doug had to stop ¼ mile from his place crawl through the 4 and 6ft snow drift, start his dozer open the driveway and then pull the truck and trailer to his place !!! what a night we got to bed at about 2am very tired !!!
 snowed in again the morning after the race !!!
 Doug cleaning the driveway in the wind
Posted by Magali in Racing News
Tuesday, January 09, 2007 2:54:51 PM (Alaskan Standard Time, UTC-09:00) 
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