Peter, Warren, Sam, Bette and Jesse in front                                           Naboo and Frank meeting the Taget mascot Spot at the race start

Warren and Sam heading out for the ceremonial run through Anchorage


Well, the team is off and running. We had a good preparation day yesterday. A few last errands  but time for Warren to take a good long nap while I trimmed toenails and clipped feet hairs on all the race dogs and massaged everyone to make sure all was working properly. The dogs were defintely ready to go. The team is strong and all the dogs are sound 100%. So, I am  guessing the question on everyone's mind is who were the final 16. Here they are... Naboo, Guiness,Caper, Frank, Hula, Hena, Blueberry, Cash, Redneck, Goblin, Edenei, Hawkeye, Calvin, Maynard, Dobie, and Widgi. The final decisions for the roster were tough as there were a few others we knew would be successful. It is hard to put so much energy into training them only to see them not go out on the trail. We definitely would like to be in this situation of having too many good dogs than not enough, but it does make it hard to choose. Factors on our decision making - age of the dogs, experience on the Southern route, and overall soundness. Those that did not make the final team will be having a few more days of quiet time and then when the kids and I are set up at our friends John and Mari Woods place, they will be getting run. Happily, Warren took all the females that are in heat and  finishing their heat cycles out with him on the trail so I can now free run everone else easily without having to split them into male and female groups and the testosterone level on the truck should be subsiding now.

Naboo and Guiness led the team out of the start chute. Naboo also led yesterday at the ceremonial start with Frank. She really is turning into a great leader. We are both anxious to see how the four 2 year olds on the team do on the race - Naboo, Hena, Hula and Hawkeye. Hulk did great on the Quest and we are expecting good things from these four. It is the first major race for all of them. We'll keep you posted.

The kids and Bette enjoyed all the hoopla that is the ceremonial start and of course the excitement of the real start today which has a very different energy from the ceremonial. I think the kids were really surprised at how celebrated dog mushers are here because in Yellowknife they just don't make such a big deal about dog mushers. It has been great to share this all with them. Even if they haven't enjoyed all the waiting that is just a part of being part of the dog team/ handler team in particular. All are excited to sleep in tomorrow and not have to rush around. With only 11 dogs on the truck I am looking forward to a few less chores now as well. Though sleeping in for me will have to wait awhile.

All for now as I am feeling bushed. All the excitement of the last few months and the extreme amounts of work putting this all together are catching up to me - though like so many of you I will be checking the internet every few hours to see if there are any updates. For those of you that subscribed to the Iditarod insider be sure to go check out the video clip of Warren from the ceremonial start yesterday. You can also see the ceremonial start on there as well but I haven't watched it yet myself. More tomorrow.
Happy trails, Kate