Merry Christmas, Everyone!
December 23, 2001
Snowcrest Racing Sled Dogs--Jim Gallea
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| Fawn Peak (behind ridge in foreground) lies shrouded in clouds. The weather has been cloudy, but not much new snow has fallen recently. The trails, however, are in great shape. |
First, congratulations to the University of Montana Grizzlies, who just won their second National Championship in Division 1-AA Football. You guys had a great season, and we all appreciate what you have accomplished. Everyone looks forward to next season.
The fall semester is over now, and I have moved my base of operations back to my family's home and kennel in Seeley Lake. From here on out, I get to dedicate my full concentration to Iditarod-related things. However, that realization is something of a mixed blessing. While it is nice not to have to worry about studying for exams, homework, and the location of the piriformis muscle in Anatomy and Physiology, I now must face all of the tasks that must be completed before the Iditarod becomes a reality.
Our first race starts on the 5th of January. The dogs are ready for the race in terms of their physical conditioning, but we need to continue training to keep them in shape and prepare for the Iditarod. When we are not training, we are working on gear and equipment, ordering supplies, doing chores and kennel maintenance (including shots and vaccinations), and also organizing the snowmobile expedition that will supply race updates to this website during the Iditarod.
The dogs are looking very good. Between yesterday and today, the dogs have run 80 miles, and they are still barking and jumping up and down. They are in excellent shape! The only negative is that we have noticed sore muscles in a few dogs. This isn't a huge problem--it's analogous to working out too much at the gym one day--but we always want to make sure that the dogs are as healthy and fit as possible. The soreness is usually found in the shoulders. Shoulder muscle soreness can develop if dogs are running on rough, rugged trails or trails with a bit of soft snow because both of these conditions require the dogs to be quick and agile.
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| Smoke leaps into the air and leans into his harness as he waits for the run to begin. |
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| Cindy Gallea gives Snickers a pat on the head. Some mushers teach their dogs not to jump up on people, but we like to get more at "eye level" with the dogs and don't mind if they do jump. Always wear clothes that you aren't afraid to wash! |
We spend a great deal of time learning about a number of topics related to mushing, including crash courses in massage and physical therapy. When a dog shows evidence of a sore muscle (or any other potential illness or injury), we do full examinations checking things like hydration, attitude, appetite, and muscle and skeletal functioning. Just as in human medicine, once we identify the ailment, we know how to fix it. The best cure for a sore muscle is simply massage and a little time off. I spent a lot of time this evening massaging the few sore shoulders. We use an oil that helps to stimulate blood flow (same thing Ben-Gay cream does) when we massage. The oil is simply peanut oil and rosemary extract, so by the time you get done with a few massage sessions, the oil is everywhere, and you smell like one of those fancy Italian restaurants. Additionally, all of the dogs are getting the next three days over Christmas off, so any soreness will have time to heal itself.
I hope that this holiday season finds everyone safe and well and with family and good friends.
Jim