Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in updates. I had some computer problems and have started a new job!
Rob has been training hard for the ExxonMobil Open Race this weekend, at both Tozier Track and Montana Creek! Both teams A & B have equal training runs at both tracks. Good news is the "B team" is shrinking and the "A Team" is getting larger. Many of the injured dogs on the B Team have bounced back to near full recovery. So the A Team now has 12-18 dogs and the B team about 8-10 dogs. The dogs that do not make the open team will be put on a smaller team and also ran in an 8 dog.
Greg Sellentin met up with Rob and told him where he and Egil Ellis would be running (Montana Creek) so Rob has trained a few times there. Rob noted the difficulties of participating in the sport alone, as he looks around and sees the handlers getting the dogs ready and the mushers getting the equipment prepared. Where as he does it all, the "one man open show." In my experience, with my father, this only further fuels his fire to want to be that much more competitive, despite the circumstances. He has an excellent attitude and it's obvious! He said while hooking up his open team, the dogs were all very quite and well behaved. Not until the last couple of dogs were hooked up did they start to get anxious to leave. Once on the trail he said that the moose have really been quite prominent in Willow and are taking advantage of walking on their groomed trails. He reported the trail at one point was very windblown and difficult to navigate at times, a true Alaskan trail! Overall, each run with both teams increases in speed and distance, with little hesitation from the dogs. They come back from their runs wanting more!
There are a couple of dogs that are out for the season which include: Murdock, Cloud, Beau and Odin. Jed, Austin, May and Herbie were moved to the B Team for closer evaluation. Jed potentially stepped in a moose hole but is expected to recover quickly. The dogs that have moved to A Team include: Dino and Barney (with Austin, Jed and Dallas rotating in and out of A and B Team)
The A Team is on fire! Rob literally has to stand on the drag mat the whole time to slow the dogs down, maintaining the runs at about 17-18mph. Rob noted that he is currently running on old runners, that are wax free. So, we can anticipate that the dogs will increase in speed when the runners are waxed and new! He also was reflecting on the dogs and made note that he has an older team, on average the dogs are 8 years old.
The ExxonMobil track is about 2/3 the Fur Rondy track, which has sparked the potential for running the Rondy--after all, if you finish the race you get your entry fee back! Although you won't see Team Worden on the roster for the Rondy just yet, we'll have to see how the dogs do this weekend. From there, a greater distance (25 miles) will be run in hopes of seeing which of the dogs are potential for a Rondy team.
Because of a slow winter start, Rob is still in the process of developing and placing the dogs on his teams. Mixing and matching to make sure the most compatible dogs are running side by side. There is a science behind sled dog racing, as in any other sport. It's easy to over look the mushers strategy, as we think the dogs do most of the work. But they are team and one could not be without the other. It's a beautiful relationship mushers develop with their dogs, especially ALONE in Alaska! Be sure to check out the YouTube videos @ Mrpawpowerracing
Rob has been training hard for the ExxonMobil Open Race this weekend, at both Tozier Track and Montana Creek! Both teams A & B have equal training runs at both tracks. Good news is the "B team" is shrinking and the "A Team" is getting larger. Many of the injured dogs on the B Team have bounced back to near full recovery. So the A Team now has 12-18 dogs and the B team about 8-10 dogs. The dogs that do not make the open team will be put on a smaller team and also ran in an 8 dog.
Greg Sellentin met up with Rob and told him where he and Egil Ellis would be running (Montana Creek) so Rob has trained a few times there. Rob noted the difficulties of participating in the sport alone, as he looks around and sees the handlers getting the dogs ready and the mushers getting the equipment prepared. Where as he does it all, the "one man open show." In my experience, with my father, this only further fuels his fire to want to be that much more competitive, despite the circumstances. He has an excellent attitude and it's obvious! He said while hooking up his open team, the dogs were all very quite and well behaved. Not until the last couple of dogs were hooked up did they start to get anxious to leave. Once on the trail he said that the moose have really been quite prominent in Willow and are taking advantage of walking on their groomed trails. He reported the trail at one point was very windblown and difficult to navigate at times, a true Alaskan trail! Overall, each run with both teams increases in speed and distance, with little hesitation from the dogs. They come back from their runs wanting more!
There are a couple of dogs that are out for the season which include: Murdock, Cloud, Beau and Odin. Jed, Austin, May and Herbie were moved to the B Team for closer evaluation. Jed potentially stepped in a moose hole but is expected to recover quickly. The dogs that have moved to A Team include: Dino and Barney (with Austin, Jed and Dallas rotating in and out of A and B Team)
The A Team is on fire! Rob literally has to stand on the drag mat the whole time to slow the dogs down, maintaining the runs at about 17-18mph. Rob noted that he is currently running on old runners, that are wax free. So, we can anticipate that the dogs will increase in speed when the runners are waxed and new! He also was reflecting on the dogs and made note that he has an older team, on average the dogs are 8 years old.
The ExxonMobil track is about 2/3 the Fur Rondy track, which has sparked the potential for running the Rondy--after all, if you finish the race you get your entry fee back! Although you won't see Team Worden on the roster for the Rondy just yet, we'll have to see how the dogs do this weekend. From there, a greater distance (25 miles) will be run in hopes of seeing which of the dogs are potential for a Rondy team.
Because of a slow winter start, Rob is still in the process of developing and placing the dogs on his teams. Mixing and matching to make sure the most compatible dogs are running side by side. There is a science behind sled dog racing, as in any other sport. It's easy to over look the mushers strategy, as we think the dogs do most of the work. But they are team and one could not be without the other. It's a beautiful relationship mushers develop with their dogs, especially ALONE in Alaska! Be sure to check out the YouTube videos @ Mrpawpowerracing
Montana Creek Willow, Alaska
Self-Portrait Montana Creek Willow, Alaska
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