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April 2008 CHANGE IS UNDERWAY! Traded in the suburban and am now driving a Hyundai Elantra. With our new "commuter car" the next thing is a dog truck. And I'm excited to say that were making the transition to the dog box system. YES you heard me right dog boxes. Its time! We know what we want and we have some terrific friends that are also looking for us- Thanks a ton Len and Yance! I started thinking about how Outlaw Ridge started, how we've changed and where were going. It was time for a New look. I'm not only revamping the web site and team colors, were also working on a logo to help tie everything in, a little of the old, a little new, and a even a piece to honor Tantrum! On Friday April 11th Primus, Legend, Brazen, Havok, Envi, Lyken and Keen visited our dear friends at Mohegan Elementary. This is easily one of our favorite schools ( with our friends at Dunns Corner Ranking right up there too!) This school is amazing the electricity in the air is incredible and the teachers, faculty and visitors are all just as excited as the kids! This year we spoke to 80 5th graders and 10 adults. Here's What Mrs S had to say after our visit: "Becki, Thank you for another wonderful presentation. All the students were amazed and instantly loved you and the kids. Your presentation is always educational, humorous, heart-felt, and inspiring. You are a great role model, and we are fortunate to have you a part of our Mohegan Team. ~ Jean p.s. It felt great to have the affection from the team - the students loved the kisses they got from your kids." Lastly......... Lyken, Havok, and Primus our certified Blood Donors, during the off season these boys will donate blood to critical patients. March 2008 ANOTHER AMAZING RACE!......THE CAN-AM We did it again, another great performance from the team. This one just shows me were on the right track with all of our changes this year! Our time was ONE HOUR faster then last year and we placed 21 out of 30! We were in the top 12 for our first leg time and ARE the FASTEST SIBERIAN TEAM for the first leg! That is amazing! The team was Havok & Envi in lead, Legend & Brazen in point and Lyken & Primus in wheel. It was a strong, hard working run and I made ita point to stop just after the “wall” a few miles from the finish before the crowds and people for a moment to our selves. I gave everyone a pat and told them how proud I was. I then took a moment for Tantrum, the Can-am was the biggest race of her life and earned her a new respect from me. I had my moment, spoke to her briefly, pulled the hook and said“lets go home” I was crazy how much power and speed the team left and the bolted for the finish! This was an incredible accomplishment for us and once again left me beaming for days!I did dump the sled in the second leg the team had to pull me out of the snow. Have you ever been in snow waste high and had it feel like quick sand? Crazy! Cost us some time, but we had a good laugh almost as funny as Envi’s finish! February 2008 INCREDIBLE......here we come! Stratford Night Hawks Race We ran the Stratford Night Hawks race. It was a back to back 30 mile race with 8 dogs and we were INCREDIBLE. I was completely in awe of the dogs. On Saturday Legend & Havok in lead, Envi & Quoia in point, Rage & Brazen in swing and Lyken & Primus in lead. I choose to hold them back at the start, even when the team behind us passed I stuck to my guns. And wouldn’t let the dogs chase. After the rail bed ( about 5 miles) I opened it up and let them set their pace. I was amazed when we began passing other teams I was number 13 out of 14 and really didn’t expect to see anybody. The team was flawless we passed swiftly, leaned into and balanced in harnesses on each and every down hill. I did stop about 20 miles into the race and put Quoia up front and moved Legend back. I don’t know what was up with her but she was going crazy trying to run past the leaders so I thought....heck lets see what she’s got. I knew we were doing well. I could just feel the speed and smiled the entire run! About 5 miles to the finish the dogs and I caught up to the same team that had passed us so early in the race (when I was holding us back.) Apparently I wasn’t the only one impressed with our time because the driver of that team then turned and asked me...”what did you turn around and not run the whole course ” Sunday held a question mark for me.........could we do it again, would we be tired. Well it started off as a nightmare. Several stops in the first 3 miles started frustrating me. On the fourth stop Havok and Legend just stood there looking at each other. I pulled Legend out of lead and put Envi in. We took off like a rocket, the entire run went just as smoothly and easily as the day before and just as fast ( maybe even faster!) I briefly stopped about 5 miles from the finish and put legend up front with Envi. Havok ran lead both days and was awesome. Quoia finished with him Saturday and while Havok led the team both days I felt Legend did an exceptional job on Saturday and I wanted him to be able to cross the finish line too. ( I know who else dose this in a race~ LOL) The team was flawless. Yes I had to get off on a few corners and help direct and Envi stopped to pose for some photo Ops. She is just to funny about that....miss America! But I still consider the run flawless and given our age and the changes we’ve gone under......I couldn’t be prouder! I have never been on a sled where the movements flowed so well, both up and down hills. We flew down the hills barely even touching the drag mat. When I called the dogs up everyone leaned in and immediately began picking up. It was a great weekend and our time was exceptional. To think the entire season I had no idea what to expect......I can tell you I never expect this. Every dog worked, tugs were tight, speed was great and we all finished healthy and sound. Not one injury not even with bombing down the hills! I couldn’t help but jumping off the runners and hugging each dog at the finish line. They were amazing! I was bursting at the seams all week. And relieved! I’ve been saying all year that I was the weaker link on this team. I wasn’t going to stress about it, or beat myself up on what we should have/could have done. Grief takes a toll on people and I’ve learned it’s a process you cant rush. One thing was clear after this run. I didn’t fail them and this is......JUST THE BEGINNING! http://www.geocities.com/stratfordnighthawks/results/2008results.html January 2008 Here we are the end of January and .............Every race this month was cancelled! Crazy isn't it, considering where my heads been this season I find it incredibly suiting! I decided to pull out of the Canada race. There were multiple reasons why. Being unable to travel with all the dogs (team & pups) our usual number of "good, house dogs" (the dogs that stay home and friends look after) went from.......6 to........12! I had some major concerns leaving the pups home for 5 days with out me, Kev, or the "core" dogs. And because they are not actually " good dogs", they would need to stay outside...........and I'm fairly certain there would be some sort of trouble! That in conjunction with the cost of this trip, and the fact that I should be saving for our new "dog truck" boxes, and sled.....well this just wasn't the right time for us. Havok and Legend are doing well in lead. And I'm totally blown away that Havok of all dogs actually knows his commands! Anyone who knows Havok would understand, If you don't know Havok here's an idea. Havok is AWESOME in wheel, he's a non-stop power machine, clue word being non-stop....as in he hates to stop. We refer to him as our "steroid raging line backer" you know the crazy guy that slams into his team mates all hyped up......thats Havok so the fact that he's calm enough to listen, register and then perform the commands.....AMAZING! Legend is the pace setter and the first to "get up" when asked. He needs some work on the commands but he and Havok are pairing offing nicely. Now we'll just keep a watchful eye on his carpus and continue with our wrist wraps and ointments. December 07 STRUGGLE...............REBUILD I have to be honest I feel the loss of Tantrum, the tragic event of her death just as deeply and raw today as I did the day it happened. I told myself this summer that i would feel better, get back to myself once training season began. My passion and focus of being with the dogs would certainly pull me back to my feet. This was an expectation I should never have placed on myself. Training has lacked the normal focus, passion and dedication on my part. The team is doing well considering our mileage is substantially less then it should be. I then decided I would load the kids up and hit some snow. What happened next was crushing. It was obvious that the ATV had made a significant change in our performance. While most of this was positive, there was one major issue, one issue that brought me to tears. My leaders could no longer keep the pace. Mayhem has been my leader for 5 years. And this year with Tantrum dying, Outlaw heading to retirement......this was the last thing I needed! Race season was just around the corner and I had NO LEADERS. I arrived home distraught, broken and announced to Kev that I was considering pulling out of every race and bagging the entire year. The idea of not having any leaders at a time that I myself felt challenged was just so heavy for me. Kev suggested I forget about "racing" use each and every race as a training tool, not to worry about time, just get the dogs more seasoned (out of a team of 8 dogs this is the first season for....4 of them!) he told me to get back to basics, not to worry about mileage, time lines and just BE. IF ever a time he could have talked me out of this way of life, got me to stay home, save money and put more cash in OUR pockets and not the dogs this was his opportunity. And yet it was so basic, I never worry about winning, yet here I was with all this pressure. Yes I wanted to do better, but this is not what it's about. So Kev calls this my rebuilding year, he spouts off famous football coaches that had theses type of seasons and then came back better, stronger, more focused and I laugh, all while thinking " his is our rebuilding year" then what will we call next year with 5 pups! November 07 - CELEBRITIES FOR A DAY On Thursday morning Primus, Mayhem, Quoia, Havok, Legend,Lyken, Envi, Rage, Brazen, Keen, Stanchion, and Ikon all went to Essex Elementary with me and our sled. We did a presentation on Racing, Raising, and Living with a Pack of Sled Dogs. As usual it was not only fun but educational and we received many compliments and some great thank you cards from the children. The message was clear in many cards the kids wrote: Its not about winning, Its about having fun, keeping everyone safe and happy! October 07 - KEEN GETS HIS RABIES VACCINE Keens been home from the hospital for a few weeks, he's putting on weight and now that he's "out of the woods" he received his rabies vaccine and will finish his puppy series...........Finally September 07 - A NEW TRAINING TOOL Well with the team size growing and the distances were looking to run, its clear that the rig just wont do. Seeing how I train all the dogs by myself its time to be sure I have CONTROL, and lets face it that just doesn't happen on the rig. So while last years training pool consisted of 8 dogs, this years holds 10 and next year when you add the pups..........thats 16. After checking some things out on line Kev decided we should just go to a local dealer and "see things for ourself" He of course came up with this idea as he poured my third martini and then off we went. Well looking turned into buying and Kev couldn't be happier that the dogs finally paid off for him as well. Finally a toy for him! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 07 - LEGENDS GETS A PROSTHETIC RIGHT EYE After noticing a trend in Legends I.O.P ( intra ocular pressure) it became clear we were beginning to loose some control of his Glaucoma. After contemplating the options ( removal, prosthesis, additional meds- he's blind in the affected eye) We've decided that A prosthesis is the way to go. Its actually Kev who felt there was no other choice, no other option..........Legend deserves a prosthetic |
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| September 2008 Truck is Done And Training Has Started Dodge looks great and I love it. Between the new frame Kev built, the new tires, the dog boxes that Kev made, all the painting I did, all the awesome mechanical extras Lenny did to soup it up and make it a super road truck it's incredible.Training has been awesome. I'm amazed that these yearling who are first time in harness line out, stand, wait and are ready to go. Each one of them is great. Stanchion & Spyder just want to run, no need for breaks or water and will slam into harness the second you stop. Ikon is full of himself and tries to be top boy as soon as he's lined out. Stanchion also likes to eat the neck line if he's lined out early and we don't take off when he thinks we should . Asylum & Shimmer are the easy two. Just ready to run and loving doing it. Keen on the other hand loves his box so much, he see's no reason to come out. He's even had days where he's spent 16 hours in there, even after weve been home. Legend is doing great as usual. His complete blindness seems to be handling everything fine. So training has started, I've sent in Eagle Lake and the Can-Am registration.......here comes race season! May 2008 New Races & Mileage Heading Our Way Here we are starting summer and already thinking about what I can and want to do in the up coming race seasol. This year we have 15 dogs to train, Far more then I ever have. There are 3 that may not be able to train to far and may not be able to race. But we'll watch things and that still gives us 12.......still more then I'm use to. Its also the first season for 6 yearling's. So heres what I've decided. This year is going to be the first year we run the 60 mile Can-Am ( 8 dog class) and the very first time for 100 mile races! The plan is to run Eagle Lake( 10 dogs) at the end of January and then Brownville Race (12 Dogs) at the beginning of February. Not only will training require more time, energy, details, and focus but we'll need some new equipment and we'll be hitting the road much earlier for some major training runs. Legend has lost his sight in his left eye. He is now completely blind but handling everything great and strong. Even handles the house stairs and the deck with no problems. Luckily we purchased our New Dodge Diesel Truck this month. Kev will start pulling off the bed, making a frame and building boxes. It will certainly be a different year for us! Cant Wait! |
