Rollin, rollin, rollin, keep those doggies rollin

A dog bootie after a 15 mile run

Training is in full swing, and the dogs and I are getting pretty tired of cart training. So this morning, when we woke to 27 degrees and snow, we were all very happy!


Move 'em out! We're hitting high velocity speeds on our training runs

I train at a state park with a large lake, so it's always chilly, and there's usually snow this time of year.


The lake where I train

Unfortunately, it'll be some time before I can run on sleds here in Ohio. But this coming weekend, I'm heading north where I'll be on the runners at last!


This crazy get up is a necessity, embarrassing as it is!

Today the dogs and I did 15 miles. They were sure tuckered out afterward.


My sweetie, Big Brown, sleeping like a baby in the warm truck. Spoiled!

It's almost exactly one month before my first race: a pro class, 8-dog, 42-miler. Sophie will also be competing in her first race too: a 2-3 dog, 4 mile junior race. The Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race is a wonderful set of races for both the novice and pro alike. And I finally have awesome dogs to run the beautiful trails of the Big Two Hearted River with.

Stay tuned: winter has just begun!

Gettin down to bidness!

My fur kids have been training. And we are all so happy to be back on the trail.

We are only doing about five miles at this point, but have some big things planned for the upcoming season. By the first week of January, we will hopefully have traveled some 600 miles to prepare for the first of at least two professional races: the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Classic 8-dog class.

Unfortunately, Jack, my only Siberian, will not be racing. He is so stubborn! He's going into his third consecutive year of running and training and has hundreds of miles under his belt. However, if it's not his idea to take a command, he will not do it. He is only good for shorter distances anyway. He will be running with Sophie in her two-dog race, also at Tahquamenon, in January.

Here are more pictures from today's beautiful run.


Gwennie being silly hiding under Jack. She loves her siberian playmate


Jack and Gwennie again


Ruffian (left) and Big Brown resting along the trail. They are yearlings and only have about a half dozen hook ups under their belt so far this season. They are doing great, however.


My fur kids


Contentment: Big Brown sleeps on Yeti's belly on the ride home. I have yet to put my dog boxes on the truck bed, so the huskies have the luxury of riding in the cab with me. What a sight: rolling down the highway with five husky heads sticking out of various truck windows!

Updates on Foxy

This photo, taken during fall training two years ago, encapsulates Foxy's spirit: gentle, loyal. It is one of my favorite photos that I've ever taken.

Though I am in Michigan, reports from home are that Foxy is doing very well. She's getting outside unassisted now for bathroom breaks, in good spirits, resting and wagging her tail.

In other news, I'm loving my stay with Joann and Larry Fortier's dogs. They howl outside in the night while I type...

A photoshopped "watercolor" rendition of Star howling

There always seems to be a visitor here: today, Merlin and Anne Coy stopped by to have a look at some of the dogs. We had a nice chat for awhile - always welcome up here!

So far, my biggest challenge has been keeping the giant wood boiler outside fed! I overslept this morning and spent the better part of today trying to get the wood boiler fed enough to raise the thermostat inside the house! Yikes!

Here is a video of Joann's smokin' hot team taking off at the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race a few weeks ago. She ran the 8 dog pro and came in 3rd! To see where she's at currently in the mid-distance Beargrease race, click here