Yesterday afternoon, the yearling team and I crossed the finish line of the Old Mail Trail 200, marking the first mid-distance race for the yearlings! I couldn’t be more proud of the pups, especially given the 40-50F temperature. It was as if overnight, winter had ended and spring had arrived, followed closely by summer. By the end of the race, the team was running through puddles, and my sled was dragging through muck and thawed tussocks. While initially I was disappointed by the rapid end of winter, I have to admit, I rather enjoyed wearing sunglasses, sunscreen, and a light jacket rather than two neck gaiters, a beaver hat, and a tightly cinched fur ruff.
So how did the yearling athletes perform?
Brant- Brant was rock solid. A couple weeks prior to the race, I questioned whether he’d make the team simply because he overworks in the beginning of a run, leaving little energy for the end. Eventually he learned how to pace himself and was a valued member of the team this race! He ran mostly in wheel and was a real cheerleader.
Eider- Eider was one of the best yearlings in the team the first leg of the race. He ran in swing due to his focus and drive. During our 8-hour mandatory layover at the halfway point in Manley, Eider flirted with Fire for the bulk of the stop, meaning he missed out on critical rest time. His lack of rest took him off his A-game for the second half of the race, but hopefully it was a lesson learned.
Fenton- Fenton is a powerhouse. He drove hard the entire race, and even with his size and thick coat, Fenton seemed to handle the heat better than most of the dogs. He was never distracted, always excited, and rested well at each stop. CHAMP.
Lefty- Lefty is the weird kid in gym class who everyone thinks would be uncoordinated, but then surprises everyone by sinking 3-pointer after 3-pointer on the basketball court. In other words, Lefty is easily overlooked and half the time he’s chasing birds or watching for moose, yet he’s perfect at his job and seems to find it incredibly easy.
