So, what are your race plans for the season?

A question posed to mushers probably on a weekly basis, if not more. 

There's been an interesting trend so far this year. Mid-distance races are filling up within hours of accepting entries, if not minutes. Mushers are setting alarms and waking up at midnight, logging onto the Internet to sign up online for the race of their choice. Maybe they get in. Maybe they don't. Maybe someone will withdraw and they can get off the wait list. Here is a list of races mushers have signed up for so far. The list is compiled by a friend over at Mushing Tech. The list is my both musher and by race. It's easy to use and is updated as different races accept entries. Check it out to see who is signed up for what thus far.

So far this year, I have signed up to run the Alaska Excursions 120, the Copper Basin 300 and the Yukon Quest 300. There are 2 other races I am hoping to run as well; the Solstice 100 and the Kobuk 440. I have never run any of these races before. (In the previous entry, I talk about the CB300 and what little I know about it.)

The Alaska Excursions race is on trails I have never been on in my life. I have heard about the knotted amount of trails down there and how easy it is to get lost. I am looking forward to being on a new trail system. I know the dogs will have a blast. The Alaska Excursions 120 is like a sprint race on crack. There are two heats, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, each about 42 miles long or so. Trail conditions change rapidly down that way, so it's never totally set in stone. This style of racing will be different than what we have ever done before. Mushers are allowed to have 10 dogs on the line but have a pool of 12 dogs to draw from. There is no mandatory gear. That's right. I will not be packing the kitchen sink on this race. My sled won't be empty though. I'm sure I will have a few things banging around in there. The Alaska Excursions takes place in December. My plan originally was to run the Sheep Mountain 150. Due to the lodge closing for the winter, the race was taken off the schedule as it was no longer happening. The Alaska Excursions will be a fun race tostart the season off with!

The next race on the schedule is the Copper Basin 300. (Check out the post I did on the CB300.)

After the CB300 is the Yukon Quest 300. The YQ300 starts in Fairbanks this year. Just like the 1000 miler, the race start alternates between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Canada. Usually when the race starts on the Alaska side, the number of entrants is low. Not this year. The field is full. This is very surprising, and I also think its the first time this has happened. The YQ300 is another ass kicker of a race. The race route follows the YQ trail from Fairbanks to Circle then heads back to Central where it finishes. Starting in this direction means that mushers must go up and over Rosebud and Eagle Summit. Both have stopped teams in their tracks. Eagle Summit has ended many the races for mushers. In 2006, group of 6 YQ1000 mushers were rescued off Eagle Summit after getting lost in a storm. Needless to say, I have incredible respect for Eagle Summit, as well as the lesser talked about Rosebud. When Darrin ran the 1000 mile YQ last year, and climbed Eagle Summit, the weather couldn't have been better if you had planned it! He and Cody had a stunningly beautiful blue bird day. Eagle Summit is also a favorite place for media, camera crews and others wanting to witness teams coming up and over to station themselves. This being the case, there was some amazing footage of the two going up and over. (Watch a short clip of the guys going up and over.)

I chose to run the YQ300 in preparation for 2016 when I plan (paws crossed) to run the 1000 mile Yukon Quest. By seeing and experiencing just a small piece, about 1/3, of the trail I will have a better idea of what's out there. It also gives dogs who haven't seen that part of the trail before a chance to see it as well. 

After the YQ300 we have a couple of months off from racing, unless we decide to do the Two Rivers 200 in March. In April is the Kobuk 440. The Kobuk starts and finishes in Kotzebue, which is up above the Arctic Circle. This is not a race for someone looking to have a leisurely stroll in the springtime. The Kobuk 440 traverses some of the most beautiful country Alaska has to offer, all at a pretty good clip. The 440 is mostly a loop, but has some doubling up on trail usage, that go through the welcoming villages of the Northwest Arctic. Darrin ran this race a couple of years ago. Like I mentioned, the Kobuk 440 takes place above the Arctic Circle. What this means is sun...or at least the potential for sun...and lots of it! In preparation for Darrin's go at the 440, I made white capes for all the dogs. The white reflects the sun and helps keep the dogs cool during the heat of the day. The capes are worn under the harnesses, thus making it awesome for snow to be stuffed up under to help cool dogs as needed. The most amazing feature of the capes...they make the dogs go oh so much faster...they just "fly" down the trail!

I have wanted to run the Kobuk 440 for a long time. Besides the pieces falling into place allowing me to run it, my thought is this...if 36 hours after finishing the race on minimal rest I want to hop back on the runners and do it all again...then mentally I think I might be ready for the YQ itself. (In the Yukon Quest, mushers get a 36 hour layover in Dawson City. This is roughly half way through the race, which is also about the distance of the Kobuk 440.)

If you are interested in helping get me down the trail and off to races (it will cost roughly $2000 to fly the dogs to Kotzebue and back. Doesn't include personal airfare), please check out our website st www.kmakennel.com. There are lots of ways you can be part of the team. 

Darrin during the mass start of the 2012 Kobuk 440 (Thanks Cathy for all  the pics!)

Mass start of the 2012 Kobuk 440

Not only do the dogs have their capes on, but Darrin does as well.

Darrin getting some hot water that is prepared and maintained by the hardworking volunteers that makes this race, and other races alike, going. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!!

Tozi taking a break in the warm Arctic sun.

Team heading back out on the trail.