NorthEnough Kennel - Group - 2009 Apostle Islands 8-dog team (Mark)

2009 Apostle Islands 8-dog team (Mark)

With the thermometer hovering around freezing and a torn up trail, there were some slow times for everyone. The RGO had put a lot of work into packing and grooming, but the base stayed cold as teams gouged through it, and suger snow holes and trenches developed, especially closer in to the start-finish where the most traffic was. There simply was not enough moisture in the snow for it to pack well even in those temps.

The race allowed for a 10-dog pool for this class, and we took advantage to switch out Corty and Poppy for Merlin and Prudie on the second heat. Corty and Poppy were both favoring a leg, I think from fissure pain and not musculoskeletal, but I didn't chance it. We had two very good runs, but I needed to switch leaders the last 8-10 miles on the second day when we hit the section of sugar snow. Best was holding back, and with a couple of experiments I wound up coming in nicely with Fuji and Sesame. Sesame is awesome at lead, and her sister Poppy also very good in the team but too cautious yet of other teams and road crossings.

Truman Obermeyer has a good team this year and I'm not sure we could have made up the time needed from the first day even if I had a clean run the second.

In all these years I don't remember ever forgetting my required bib to race with, but on day two that's exactly what happened. Time penalty= 15 minutes--OUCH! At the awards I expected to be happy with third place, but somehow managed to tie to the seconds for 2nd! OUCH but WOW! Didn't matter--our dogs ran very well and we were pleased despite my rookie mistake.

Results

Name	Sex	Comments	Father	Mother	Breeder
Cher-Mi's Best-2003 (L)	F	Best ran lead both days, the whole first heat and most of the second. As I left the chute on Sunday, she was looking a little shaky and hesitant, but when we caught up w/ Truman in the first couple miles, she ran better while chasing, so I left her up there. She was switched out about 10 miles from the finish the second day when she didn't want to lead out in the soft sugar snow.	North Force's Three Musketeers at L	Cher-Mi's Holiday	Cherie and Mike Collier
Vajradhara's Roman-2006 (L)	M	Roman ran wheel both days. I almost started him at lead, but relied on Best for the passing (though Roman seems to be OK w/ that, I didn't chance it). He got a little wrung out on Saturday and threw up some of his morning soup. The vets had a look at him and checked for possible aspiration, but he was fine and had a better run the next day.	Vajradhara's Jasper-1999	Lokiboden's Scully-1996	Mark and Elizabeth Levitski
Vajradhara's Cortland-2002 (L)	M	Corty ran very well w/ Roman at wheel. He's one of the few that can keep Roman from getting in his face during the first part of the run--they run well together. Corty was a little wiped from putting all his high effort out in the heat and humidity. He seemed to limp a little with his rear leg, so I replaced him for day #2.	Vajradhara's Jackson-1997	Lokiboden's Scully-1996	Mark and Elizabeth Levitski
Vajradhara's Dear Prudence-2007	F	Prudie has been taken off the designated leader list for now. She was tried up there on the second day about 10 miles from the finish but would not stay focused. Otherwise she ran very well, always trying to pick it up.	Vajradhara's Jasper-1999	Howling Spirit's Quarry-1999	Mark and Elizabeth Levitski
Vajradhara's Fuji-2002 (L)	M	As usual, solid performance by Fuji. He also took up for Best at lead for the last part of day #2.	Vajradhara's Jackson-1997	Lokiboden's Scully-1996	Mark and Elizabeth Levitski
Vajradhara's Marvel (Fat Pants)-2004 (L)	M	Fatty got pretty wrung out the first day and necklined a bit toward the end. Made me nervous to take him for the 2nd heat, but I did and didn't regret it--he ran real well. He and his sister Miracle (Lulu) do not eat and drink like the others do on the truck. Usually it doesn't seem to affect them. I think it was the warm temps and humidity that did him in the first day, otherwise it would have gotten progressively worse the second day, not better.	Vajradhara's Jackson-1997	Vajradhara's Ember-1997	Mark and Elizabeth Levitski
Vajradhara's Merlin-2004 (L)	M	Merlin was a second day dog only, ran well for the first 30 miles then had some trouble with the soft trail and did some stumbling and necklining. Overall pretty good run though. He was of great help with his power up the hills as a fresh dog.	Vajradhara's Jackson-1997	Howling Spirit's Quarry-1999	Mark and Elizabeth Levitski
Vajradhara's Miracle-2004	F	Miracle had two great runs at point.	Vajradhara's Jackson-1997	Vajradhara's Ember-1997	Mark and Elizabeth Levitski
Vajradhara's Poppy-2007 (L)	F	If Poppy hadn't shown some slight limping after Saturday's run, I would have wanted to leave her in there for day #2. She ran great w/ Fatty ahead of wheel. I think it was pain from some fissures she developed, but I left her out on the second day to be sure.	Vajradhara's Merlin-2004	Cher-Mi's Best-2003	Mark and Elizabeth Levitski
Vajradhara's Sesame-2007 (L)	F	Sesame ran both days at lead and was absolutely fantastic.	Vajradhara's Merlin-2004	Cher-Mi's Best-2003	Mark and Elizabeth Levitski