Running a 1000mi race doesn’t mean “just” running the actual 1000mi trail of the race, it also involves A LOT of preparation and hard work to get to the starting line, like hauling thousands of pounds of dog food and fuel via trucks, snow machines and sleds, and countless hours on side by side and sled just to mention some of it. That being said – we happily do ALL of the preparations and put in the long hours and hard work with tons of love, and we have fun while doing it! With 24 hours to the start of the race, we wanted to give you a glimpse of what the road to the starting line has looked like. Enjoy! (Click images for bigger photos/slide)
Summer fun
Kutuk enjoying free running and hiking with the rest of the kennel during the summer
8/4 – Quest signup!
Fall
Fall training
Necessities
Necessary prep for two leggeds to stay warm and happy during winter time.
Chica
Joe Bush Creek
Heading out on a run
September training
Brent is focusing on dogs and driving side by side, but the side show isn’t all that bad eh?
Creek running
Beautiful fall scenery
Snow!
Dogs enjoying some of the first snow we got
In between season
When you so badly want to run with sleds, you load the sleds onto the side by side and do a mixed run
First sled run
We were so happy when we were finally able to get the sleds out and head over the pass to the Minook Valley.
Captain guarding his food
Food prep
Meals for dogs getting prepared for food drop bags
Hero and Captain
CB300
Finish at CB300, a great race before heading to the Quest.
Arlo
Sluice
Food prep
King Silver
Silver keeping an eye on the dog food for the drop bags
Drop bags
Redington Checkpoint
We are so happy to have such wonderful support from Pam Redington in Manley Hot Springs. Her place is our second home, and a “full service checkpoint” whenever we need it. Here she is helping remove booties when Brent and dogs came through on a training run. We are also very proud to have Jeep, one of Joee and Pam’s dogs with us in Whitehorse for the Quest this year!
Mark and Brent
It’s been tradition for years for Brent’s dad to come out to the Homestead and pick the Quest food drops and deliver them on food drop day. We checked another year off the list this year!
Booties
Many many training runs = many, many dog booties!
Moving!
We love cruising down our local trails
Fairbanks fun
Brought the race dogs to town for vet check.
Mark and Silver
Silver came with us to town for his 17th birthday and joined us for vet checks. Photo by Seth Adams @ YQ
And off they go!
On Tuesday 1/29 Brent, dogs, Steve Stoller and Jason Avery took off for Whitehorse.