Not much time for Blogging right now, as we are busy running longer runs (50 miles and up), cutting meat and packaging it for the food drop next Saturday etc. The snow continues to fall in small amounts and training is going well. There are still 13 dogs in the pool, so it will be interesting to see who makes it and who does not. The dogs all seem happy and are holding their weight well with the longer runs.

Even though time is short, I would like to thank my Sister Eileen and her partner, Marcello who live in Montelpuciano Italy for sponsoring Fiona, one of the team dogs. More about that sponsorship at a later date.

Also, Heathers Siblings and their spouses, Kim And Karen, Roberta and Tim, TJ (SP?? I will get it right I promise ) and Scott and Tory and Leo have sponsored Sindbad, one of the wheel dogs. Hopefully there will be a bit more time next week to expand on these sponsors and their dogs, but once again, thanks to all of them for the support.

Happy training.

Sean

Just a short training update. All is going well as we move into longer runs (yeterday they comfortably did a 40 mile run and a week or two ago a 60 mile run). What is more important than that though, is that so far there are no real serious injuries happening. Duchess had a sore shoulder a few weeks ago which seems to have cured itself quite nicely, so she will be worked back into the team this week to see how it is doing. We actually aren't 100% certain it was a shoulder at all, as there was no sign of any problems the very next morning, but to be on the safe side we treated it as if it was a shoulder problem, hoping it was just sore muscles. Some of the older dogs are showing their age now and have been put into the "puppy training", shorter distance mode as they just don't have the energy they used to have. They have all earned this well desrved rest!!

Fred however, seems to be defying all odds for a twelve year old dog with a thyroid problem. The day after the 60 mile run, Fred went in for dental surgery to remove 8 teeth (this is Freds second dental surgery, the first one a year ago removed 18 teeth, indications are that he probably just has genetically poor teeth). The vets were very impressed with Freds physical condition for his age and found no problems with the "geriatric blood panel" they did prior to the surgery. Fred got a week off and did a 30 mile run Friday and a 40 mile run yesterday and was able to keep up without any visible problems. I am really hoping Fred will make the team, but ultimately because of his age, another tooth that they couldn't remove and the recovery from this surgery, I will let the vets advice guide my decision.

Dr Carolynne Fujda, Freds personal sponsor and overall team vet will be looking at Fred this week when she is in Haines Junction for a mobile clinic and hopefully we will have a better idea whether Fred will be running in the Quest 300 this year or not. (There are some photos of Dr Fujda on the sponsorship page examining Fred prior to his surgery, feel free to have a look).

I am finished work this Friday for five weeks to work on longer runs and do the many tasks I need to do to prepare for this race. It is a huge learning curve for me, the dogs and of course Heather, who looks at me like I am a stranger sometimes when I finally get in the house to eat or sleep. Without her support and encouragement, this would seem like an overwhelming task, even though it is only a 300 mile race.

Happy training.

Sean