Sled Runs

Winter storm “Hercules” (I hate that they name snow storms now) dumped a bunch of white stuff on us the day after New Years. We went for a run around the neighborhood while the storm was still raging to take advantage of the unplowed streets.

Even though it was nearly midnight, the snow reflected everything and we could see just fine. By the time we got back, the dogs had ice beards and our hair was frozen. It reminded me of professional dog teams during the Iditarod or other big races – even though we were only out for about 45 minutes and went less than two miles.

Friday, I had to work a bit, but afterwards we headed right back out. It didn’t get much warmer than the teens, so the snow didn’t melt and the streets still had a sled-able layer of snow.

My goal for today was to get out on some real trails. I dragged my sister along to Six Mile Run to help – and to take pictures while we ran. While we were setting up, a guy walked over and asked if he could take pictures, because “no one would believe him”. I love those encounters. He stood along the trail and snapped photos as we took off and the dogs passed by flawlessly – even though he had a scary hat and Dexter wasn’t too sure about it. 

The dogs run great on snow. You can tell they love it, even if it’s a bit extra work for them. The snow was deep and soft today, so it was slow going. I didn’t mind it, though. The trails were beautiful and I soaked up every second out there. This is why I do it, not to clock in super fast speeds or win races.

The Ups and Downs of Mushing

THE UPS:

Things have been pretty glorious since my last entry. We’ve been getting snowed on, which is a great surprise for early December. Considering how dry the past two winters were, getting on the sled before January was a welcomed change. Here’s hoping this winter is like the one right before I purchased my sled – when we had blizzards literally every weekend!

We’ve been getting little bits of snow here and there, but the heaviest dump was last Saturday. I managed to take the sled out that night, before the plows cleared off the streets.

The following day, I went to good ol’ Six Mile Run for some more time on the runners. The dogs loved it, despite having to pull both me and Rob through the soggy snow. We did less than two miles since it was tough work, but it was still fun taking the sled somewhere beyond my neighborhood.

THE DOWNS:

Sadly, it’s supposed to warm up this weekend, and all my beautiful snow will likely melt before my vacation officially begins. Sunday is supposed to reach 68 degrees with thunder storms. Really?

I had originally hoped to trek up north to find some sledding trails, but I’m hesitant to make the trip by myself. Unfamiliar trails with questionable cell phone service worry me a bit. Finding a cabin has also proved to be a challenge. Plan B was to find trails closer to home. I had the Poconos in mind. But with the upcoming warm weather, I doubt I’ll find anything sled-able without going at least five hours north.

I need to start making preparations to do these trips on my own. I want to get my hands on a satellite GPS – I think that would help with some of my anxiety. If I’m ever going to start running my little team over greater distances, I won’t be able to do it with a passenger. That’s just too much for three dogs to handle.

I don’t expect anyone to accompany me for a seven hour journey north, where they’ll be spending their time alone in a rustic cabin with only the bear essentials, while I’m out running dogs for hours.

I also don’t expect my friends to wake up at 5:30 AM on a Saturday, hop in my truck for an hour and a half ride, only to spend eight hours in the freezing cold while I compete in races.

Normal twenty-something-year-olds don’t do this stuff. While they’re out at bars and listening to friends’ bands perform, I’m calling it a night at 10 PM.

Mushing is a lonely thing, I’ve come to realize. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Race Day

I can’t believe it’s already December! We already had our first two races of the 2013-2014 season, and I guess you could say they went “fine”. 

Our first race was the Betty Carhart Memorial Race. It was cold. Now, when I say cold, I don’t mean normal, November-weather cold. It was in the teens, with a bitter wind all day long. A week prior to the race, I was in 80-degree Florida for vacation. I developed a pretty nasty cold when we got back. Let’s just say, eight hours in bitter temperatures probably wasn’t a smart move on my part. I felt like DEATH the following day, and didn’t make it in for my work meetings.

Our run wasn’t terrible, but it felt pretty disappointing at the time. We were second out of the chute, and the dogs took off like lightning. All three were running smooth and hard for about three miles. We caught up to the team that was first out, but I didn’t let them pass because we still need work on that. Plus, they run better when they’re chasing after another team.

At around three miles, Dexter slowed down and needed to poop. This was right before the toughest part of the trail, as we approached a hill. We lost sight of the first team, and the team that went out third passed by us. They provided a quick boost of chasing-speed, but that fizzled quick. We never got the speed we needed to finish strong.

Our overall time wasn’t terrible. We were about seven minutes faster than our previous training run on the same trail. We were two minutes faster than we were last year during a training run at the end of the season. So, I can’t really be upset. It just would’ve been nice to end the race as well as it started.

The Pine Barrens Dryland Run was the following Saturday, and it didn’t really go any better for the team. We were the first ones out of the chute this time, which I knew would be problematic. They still ran hard, but they fizzled out much quicker. Early on, Denali got distracted by some animal and tried to run off the trail. By the time I finally got her moving, the team behind us was in sight. They caught up with us quick, and after a messy pass (my team’s fault), they did keep a steady pace. I expected this would happen, and I had hoped to keep them in chase mode until the end of the race.

The last mile or so proved to be tough on Dexter, and I can’t really blame any of them for getting tired. They’re used to doing about two miles at a time. We got passed up by two bikejoring teams, which (at the time) felt devastating because there was a five minute gap between the three dog senior class and the bikes. 

In the end, our time was only about a minute worse than the first race, and those bikejorers were just really, really fast. 

Going forward, my game plan might be to run Denali and Knox in the sweepstakes bikejor class, then do sportsman for the three dog senior class. We’ll see how our training goes. I’m hoping to get out to longer trails more often now that it’s cold throughout the day. If Dexter improves enough, we’ll continue to run competitively in the three dog senior class, but I’m not counting on it. 

I feel the need to write a disclaimer. This entry makes it sound like I’m primarily focused on racing with the dogs. That’s not the case at all. I don’t really like races – they give me anxiety! I compete in them to support the clubs and to stay an active member of the mushing community. Mushing has the potential to become a very solitary activity, but I do want to keep the social aspect of it going, and that’s where races come in.

My real dream is to acclimate the dogs to distance runs. I’d love to take them out for hours at a time, over several miles of trail. For that, speed isn’t a priority. Instead, I need them to build up endurance and focus. They’re used to hiking several miles at a time, so I know this is possible. 

That’s all for now! Our next race won’t be until January, but I’m looking forward to lots of morning and weekend runs to come.

A Musher's Day

Sometimes, on the weekends, I like to sleep in. Especially when I stay up until 2 AM working on a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle (uhh yea). And especially when I know it’s going to be under 50 degrees the following day, and I don’t have to head out at the crack o’ dawn to run dogs.

 

Sometimes, the dogs miss that memo. Thankfully, they did let me sort of sleep until around 9:30 AM (as you can see in the second photo). They didn’t make it easy, though.

So off we went to Six Mile Run in Somerset, NJ. We also ran there last weekend, which went pretty well. I scoped this trail out quite a bit during our hikes this past summer, and I realized it would be pretty decent for running the dogs. It’s primarily used by mountain bikers, and there’s quite a bit of trail I simply can’t do with the dog cart. Lots of steep, rocky, root-filled declines and inclines. Nevertheless, there’s still a few good miles of beautiful scenery, and it’s only 30 minutes away from home. The Pine Barrens, on the other hand, take over an hour and a half to drive down to. As much as I love the Pines, it’s tough on my sleep schedule and my wallet.

 

Today was actually the first time I drove out somewhere to run the dogs completely alone. Usually, I meet up with other mushers, or I bring someone with me to help. This time, it was just me, the dogs, and the woods (and the occasional mountain biker).

I love introducing people to mushing. I’m also extremely grateful to have the Jersey Sands mushers to meet with and exchange knowledge. But there’s something really satisfying about heading out and doing this on my own sometimes.

I also love taking the dogs to trails they don’t know. It’s great practice for commands, since they don’t automatically know which way to turn. Last weekend, Denali showed how young she still is by not really listening to me. Well, she did , just on her own accord. Today was much better – she listened to all my commands with barely any hesitation.

Last weekend, we were out on the trail for almost an hour, even though we didn’t really go that far. My friend, Rob, was riding with me so the dogs had to work a bit harder.

They only had me to lug around today, so we did about the same distance in half the time.

I’m hoping I can bring them out to another new trail soon. I’d like to load the cart up with treats (the dog kind and the human kind) and water, and just run for hours. It’s tough to find those kinds of trails close by, though. Only in the Pines (where I think we’re headed tomorrow) or out of state, it seems.

Running Daily

We’re finally running on an almost daily basis now! Our little woods loop is still locked up, but we’ve managed to find a new spot to add to our local run. Combining our two running areas adds up to a mile and a half, which works out perfectly for a quick morning sprint.

This weekend, we hope to head down to the Pine Barrens for the first time this season.  Can’t wait to run some longer trails!

The dogs have been doing well so far. For no apparent reason, Dexter seems to be running a bit better this year. He’s still not pulling  to his full potential, but at least he’s keeping up and not adding work for the other two. They used to have to pull him along with the rig, so it’s definitely a relief.

Denali has been pretty spot on, although it’s evident how much more focused she is when the weather is cooler. She much rather lounge around when it’s warm and sunny out. 

Knox is a little (uh, big) trooper, as always. This past Sunday, we went hiking at the Mohonk Preservation in New York. And by “hiking”, I actually mean spelunking and rock climbing, because that’s what the trail required. He was nervous, but a total champ whenever we had to lift him up boulders and rocky ledges, or squish him down into caves. We hiked for about five or six hours, and he never stopped or even slowed down. I’m pretty sure he could hike forever.

 Knox is just as great in harness. His lines are always tight and he doesn’t stop for anything. His commands aren’t as solid as Denali’s, but he knows them well enough. 

The team has around ten miles recorded for this season, which is lower than I’d like for late October, but we can’t help how warm it’s been. Now that we’re getting some consistent cool mornings, we should start racking up the mileage and getting back into the swing of things.

Urban Mushing

I was sick all week, which was a real bummer because it’s been cold. Finally started feeling a bit better today, so I decided to take the 90-pound rig out for an evening run. This was the first three dog run of the season, and they did pretty well! 

The only tough part was getting them to turn around where we normally enter the wooded area. Since it’s still closed off and locked (GRRR!), I have to maneuver them around the parking lot and head back from where we came.  

When there isn’t a soccer game going on, I can have them head off around the fields, so it’s not an issue. But this evening, there were kids out playing, so we couldn’t do that. I decided since this was the halfway point in our run, they could use a quick water break. After they calmed down, I was able to redirect them towards home again, and they did just fine.

The Mushometer App

It’s going to become pretty redundant for me to write about each and every run we do. Many of our runs are pretty uneventful. So I’m going to make a point to write about various topics related to mushing. I want this blog to be a resource as well as a record of my team’s training.

Today I want to talk about the iPhone app I use to log my runs – Mushometer. It’s available to download for $4.99, which is a bit pricey for an app, but totally worth it in my opinion.

This app allows you to create a profile for each dog within your kennel and set up team combinations. You can log your trails and track all your runs. I used to use a generic running app to log our speed/time/distance, but this one does that and more.

The only downside I can think of is that you need service to use the tracking in this app. Obviously, for mushers who run in areas in poor or no service, this would be kind of useless.

But, if you’re just a recreational musher in central NJ, this app is pretty damn cool. Check it out in the iTunes app store!

Eager to Run

Well, this weekend played its usual tricks. Saturday and Sunday were both in the 70s and 80s.

However, I decided I wouldn’t let that stop us. It was a bit breezy and cloudy on Saturday afternoon, so I figured it would be safe for a quick bikejor.

Running with the bike is a lot less work for the dogs, since it’s lighter and I can pedal along. It doesn’t really build their muscles too much, but it definitely helps with their running and command training.

I only took Knox and Denali, since I can only safely bikejor with two at a time. Running all three dogs requires more weight to stop.

I ran them on my usual route, but we missed out on the quarter-mile wooded loop we normally do. For some reason, the gate to that area was locked up. I really hope that isn’t the case going forward, as I rely on that spot for day to day training.

I was really impressed – they ran flawlessly, which is amazing for their very first run. They didn’t get distracted by the kids soccer game or the busy parking lot we had to navigate through.

The most impressive part of the run was towards the end. We usually navigate through a small memorial park and run behind my town’s rescue squad. However, since it was the weekend, there was a tent set up and some men were selling potted plants. They were in the exact spot the dogs have been trained to run through – so they did just that. Somehow, they didn’t disturb a single plant pot. And somehow, my bike didn’t destroy anything as it followed behind them.

By the time we got back, the temperature was creeping up, so I didn’t want to risk running Denali again with Dexter. Instead, he got a hike around the local woods – mostly to see if those trails were safe to run. Right now, they’re full of sawgrass and downed trees, so that will have to wait until later in the fall.

Pre-season Anxiety

This happens every year – temperatures creep downwards, but for various reasons, I’m unable to get out and run the dogs.

This year, it’s my work schedule that interferes. It’s only cold enough to run in the early morning right now.

However, it’s still dark out when I wake up . By the time it’s bright enough to hit the trail, I have to start my shift.

I could technically run just before dawn, but I prefer not to. There are just too many critters out that will likely distract the dogs. Same goes for right around dusk – it’s cold enough, but that’s when animals start to come out. My guys are pretty good when encountering animals. That being said, I don’t like taking chances, especially when I’m running them alone.

In the mean time, I must wait for weekends to cool down. It seems like weekdays stay cold but then the weekends are warm and humid again. Before too long, I’ll be able to go out on my lunch break (around 11 am), but until then, I’ll have to suffer through all my Facebook friends posting their mushing photos.

I know I’ll have plenty of chances to get out and mush with my guys, but I think I’m more eager this season than ever before. I have so many new trails to try out thanks to my off-season hikes. Fingers crossed for a cold weekend!

Mushing Season is Coming

The temperatures are finally starting to cool down here in central NJ. Well, aside from today’s muggy hotness, but the forecast shows a crisp fall weekend ahead.

I tuned up my bike and re-attached my bikejor piece, so that’s ready to roll.

Now I just have the following things to take care of:

Air in the dog carts’ tires
Fix the tail light/wiring on the trailer
Renew the registration on the trailer
After that, we’ll really be all set! I’m hoping to get at least one local run in this week. Then, if all goes as planned, I’ll take the dogs to Six Mile Run this weekend. It’s a beautiful trail I found while hiking this spring/summer. It’s actually a trail meant for bikes, so it should be perfect for running the team.

I’d prefer to start out with my heavy training cart, but that requires my trailer to be ready – which I don’t think will happen by this weekend. So, I’ll most likely take them out with the small cart, which I can throw on my bike rack for easy transport.

I can’t wait to run ‘em, especially now that I have a bunch of new trails to try out from all my hiking trips. I think this is going to be a great season.