Long Runs Ahead
There’s a saying in the Iditarod, you can have the greatest day of your life and the worst day of your life all within in one 24 hour cycle. Playing on that I thought I’d bookend this post with two photos of Cole. The top one if her smiling and the team looking fresh, and the one at the bottom of her in Mcgrath, trail weary and worried about sending home so many of her core dogs.
Some of you have already asked about her leaving Mcgrath with 13. Apparently Keno was starting to sound a little wet in terms of his lungs and breathing, possibly a side effect of breathing up snow dust while breaking trail. This is something that can quickly turn to pnuemonia, so now Keno will join Cyder and Woobie on a return flight home.
This is seriously bad news for Cole. While she has several lead dogs left, Penny, Cyder and Keno are three of her strongest late stage dogs. Around 700-900 miles in many leaders stop wanting to lead, but these three have never given her trouble. Being down to only Penny, and having her injured from the dog bite a few days earlier, is weighing heavy on Cole’s mind.
It would be an understatement to say she has not had fun the last few days, but that is part of 1,000 mile races, they’re a bit like long hikes. Once your home and rested you remeber all the scenic views and the smores around the campfire, but once you repeat that hike you remeber how heavy the backpack feels, how bad the blisters on your feet hurt and all the mosquitos that buzz and bite.
Cole’s next two runs are also two of the longest in thje race. It’s about 72 miles from Ophir to Cripple, then another 70 to Ruby. She’d like to split the runs up to give the dogs more rest, but with the day time temperatures being at or aobve zero, it’s just to warm to do anything besides move at night, so she wasn’t sure if she’d camp these two runs, breaking them into four runs, or just push them out in two long legs. She was going to let the trail and the dogs attitudes decide. So stay tuned.
Also, since she has been having such a rough go this year, I’m hoping to surprise her in possible Ruby or Galena, so if I don’t get a connection I may not blog for a day, but I haven’t forgot about all of you following her race. I’ll update as soon as I can. All for today, except to say, the local newpaper is taking a poll of which musher you’re rooting for. If you feel like casting your vote for COle, here’s the link to their page: http://peninsulaclarion.com/ and thanks for voting.
March 8th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Joseph, thanks for keeping us updated about Cole and the dogs. It would be a great surprise for you to show up, somewhere, along the trail,,,, I’m sure Cole would be very happy to see you. Go 42!!!!!!!!!
March 8th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
The Alaska Dispatch has a photo of Cole napping with her dogs in Ophir today.
March 8th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Cole, you are doing the right thing and we are cheering for you and your team to have a streak of good luck now! I am hoping for a silver lining here with a new star (or more) to be born on the trail…
Whatever happens, you will prevail as the fine musher you are and have a team to be proud of. Sometimes it’s just like my old forever dog lived his life – it was always about the journey and never about the destination. He taught us to be grateful along the way, as the way never ends. Go 42!
March 8th, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Thanks, Susan! Here’s the link, Cole’s pic is the first in the series.
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/father-and-son-find-golden-silence-iditarods-ophir-checkpoint
March 8th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Thankss for the link guys. I had to wade through about 10 pictures of Martin, but it was nice to see ONE of Cole.
March 9th, 2012 at 12:21 am
Martin, and son who looks so much like him! I met Martin way back when and was thoroughly impressed. He’s a dog king, alright, but you guys – well, RGK rocks more than any other kennel I know! You’ve done it all on your own, with family (and rogue fan help), – bless you all. Each and every one of you! Go 42!
March 9th, 2012 at 2:23 am
Yea! She’s into Cripple although the standings haven’t been updated.
Martha, thank you for the link.
A prayer for safety, speed, good rest, healing of injuries and good luck sent up on your behalf.
Love and hugs to you all. Amy
March 9th, 2012 at 7:09 am
Wow Amy! you are up early…. or are you up late???
I am looking at the standings and it looks like she had a really good run to Cripple. 10 hours 46 minutes. Most of the time when I was checking the GPS she was traveling between 7 and 8.5 mph.
I see she arrived with with several others. Between Rhon Buser and Jodi Bailey, Cole was on of 5 who arrived within 15 minutes of each other. So she had some company over the long run. And who better to be traveling with than the Busers?
March 9th, 2012 at 7:59 am
Cole’s run Offir (sp) to Cripple was 10:46…Mitch Seavey’s time for the same run was 10:24! YaY RGK!!!!!!
March 9th, 2012 at 8:08 am
GPS had Cole out of Cripple traveling 6.8 mph at mile 397. Standings have not yet updated so I don’t know if she dropped anyone. But they had a rest of maybe 7 hours so they should be primed for this next long run (which the Seaveys did in 11 hrs.)
March 9th, 2012 at 8:35 am
Thanks for the updates Joseph, hope you make it to suprise her. Tell her that her online team is behind her!
March 9th, 2012 at 9:19 am
Bruce Linton, after his terrifying experience earlier, looks like he’s got his act together and did not let that hold his team back. Those Kasilof mushers are pretty tough ya know!
I do hope Cole is in good company on the trail (besides the wonder dogs), and rested well.