Team Recap
Ham- Ham was one of the most enthusiastic dogs on the team. He led the bulk of the race and was unfazed by overflow or steep terrain, dragging the whole team behind him. At only two years old, this guy has a blindingly bright future.
Neptune- Neptune, who joined the team from Riley Dyche’s kennel, is Ham’s sister. She’s a female version of Ham and led the team often.
Dingle- Dingle, from SP Kennel, was the man. With multiple 1000-mile races under his belt, he brought much needed maturity to the team. His Gee/Haw response was instant, unless of course I was wrong and then he’d correct me.
Cartel- Cartel was a cheerleader. She led one leg of the race with Dingle but prefers to be in swing. Her high-pitched ra-ra-ra-ra gets the whole team excited.
Lester- I need to preface Lester, from SP Kennel, briefly: Three years ago, I ran with Lester in the Quest 300. He was two years old, and it ended up being the first mid-distance race he finished. I remember wrapping both his wrists, putting hand warmers in a shoulder jacket to keep him loose, and placing multiple blankets and a dog jacket on him at rests. He wasn’t injured or even sore, I just didn’t want to give him any reason to quit. Lester just didn’t consider himself a tough sled dog yet, and honestly, I wasn’t convinced either. Oh how he has changed. Since that race, Lester has gone on to finish two Iditarods and multiple mid-distance races. He’s a confident dog with a can-do attitude. His calm demeanor and trail savvy were a great influence on the youngsters.
Kindi- Kindi was sassy. All the yearlings did exceptional, but she was probably the MVY (most valuable yearling) of the race. Every time we stopped, she’d be screaming to go. There is never a bad day in the life of Kindi.
Rucu- Rucu was one of the hardest pullers on the team. He ate well, slept well, and was a powerhouse. On the final run into Central when the team sped up, he was one of the main drivers. I can’t wait to see him mature.
Supai- Supai was rock solid. He always had a tight tugline and was completely focused. I was surprised he stayed so energized because he refused to rest at the first two campouts.
Fez- Fez was the little energizer bunny. She has a fast paced trot that was smooth and mesmerizing to watch. Fez doesn’t show much emotion, but she’s always ready to go.
Brie- Brie was the cheerleader. After every break, she was the first to start barking. She and Fez ran in wheel together.
Katy- Katy was dropped at the Two Rivers checkpoint. About 5 miles from the checkpoint, she had developed some stiffness in her shoulder. It appeared to be just a cramp, but since I wasn’t stopping at the checkpoint, I couldn’t take the gamble and bring her down the trail. I was pretty disappointed because Katy has been one of the strongest yearlings in training.
Derby- Derby improved with every run. Coming into Mile 101, Derby appeared a little tired, but after that run, she became a new dog. She was always slamming her harness to go.
