/ 2008 Archived Material / It's All About the Dogs

Target Iditarod Teacher on the Trail^™ It's All About the Dogs

by Jane Blaile

Ok, now I get it. It's about the dogs. It's all about the dogs. Let me explain. Yesterday I met up with the Arizona Mountain Mushers again. This time I was put on a 3 wheeled cart - I liken it to a tricycle that you ride standing. Before I began, I was giving a crash course on what do and not do - have a firm grip on the handlebars, don't lose control, ride the brake all the way down the hill, don't lose control, keep the cart in line behind the team, don't lose control, keep the line tight, don't lose control, make sure the cart doesn't creep up on the dogs, don't lose control... you get the idea. Then with a big smile, Cheri told me that I was going to be fine and I would have a blast. Which was true.

 

I harnessed and hooked up my 4 dog team: leaders Bentley and DJ with wheel dogs Otter and Mr. Quick. They knew what was coming. The times I've been around dogs getting ready to run, the sounds of the team have caused me to become a little anxious. Their yelps, yips, yaps, and screams to run make me excited, increase my heart rate, and elevate my awareness. Their energy is contagious.

 I stood on the cart fairly shaking with incredulousness that I was actually behind a dog team which was going to pull me on a vehicle that I was solely responsible for. At the same time, I felt some apprehension about releasing the "panic line" which anchored me to the trailer.

When I was given the OK go to, I yelled, "Hike! Let's Go!" hardly believing I was actually using those words for real, and off we went. And little by little, I began to see that this is all about the dogs, not me. I wasn't there to reap any benefits directly; my enjoyment came from helping the dogs do what they wanted to do - run. My focus was on their comfort and safety so they could keep running. What a revelation it was to actually experience that.

And what a respect I have for any musher. The number of points you have to keep in mind and keep checking on is mentally taxing and the physical demand is on your entire body.

My run was a 3 mile training run for sprint racing dogs. I cannot fathom running 1,000+ miles. More than ever, I'm eager to and honored to be immersed in the pool of top mushers that call themselves the Iditarod racers. I will never view them in the same way again. And the dogs...it's ALL about the dogs.