Where Do We Stand In the Grand Scheme of Things???
Putting it all into perspective
(As of January 31, 2002)

With all this racing and training and preparation for the race, even we mushers get a little confused.  Here's a summary of what has happened and what's to come at Ultimate Iditarod's Kennels as they prepare for the Iditarod.

Training and Racing

Seavey's Iditarod Racing Team

"We have spent the last month on focusing on long training runs and camping trips as a means of simulating Iditarod conditions and building the physical and mental toughness of the dogs.  Our major long training run happened around the tenth of this month when we did a few hundred miles of training on parts of the Iditarod trail near Wasilla.  Following that long run, we have entered teams in both the Klondike 300 and the Tustumena 200 as a continuation of our toughness training.  These long runs and races serve two purposes:  They get everyone (musher and dogs) in shape, and they are the evaluation tool we use to determine the best sixteen dogs for the Iditarod."

Snowcrest Racing Sled Dogs

"For our kennel, January has also been a month of long training runs, beginning with camping trips early in the month, and culminating with a race simulation that put 500 miles of training on the dogs in a ten-day period at the end of the month.  The race simulation was done as a mix of camping trips and the Seeley Lake 100 Sled Dog Race.  However, we have not exclusively focused on long training runs and camping trips to prepare the dogs for Iditarod conditions.  During the first half of January, we competed in the Atta Boy 300 Race in Oregon, which gave the dogs 7 consecutive days of running, but in the form of shorter 35-50-mile runs rather than the 50-75-mile runs we run on camping trips.  The training the dogs received by racing in Oregon was good for building speed and attitude.  The long runs and race simulation at the end of the month was excellent for both physical and psychological conditioning."

Race Preparation

For Both Kennels

Like most Iditarod mushers, the month of January and the first month of February is also a big time for preparing "food drops."  Food drops are the bags of food and supplies sent out to many of the Iditarod Checkpoints.  These bags are the only form of re-supply that the teams get when racing in the Iditarod, so careful planning and packing are essential.  Food Drops must be taken to Anchorage no later than Valentine's Day.  

In addition to Food Drops, mushers are also making changes and modifications to equipment and sleds that will be used on the trail.  If equipment isn't made to exacting standards and carefully inspected before the race, valuable time during the race can be lost while making repairs.

What Lies Ahead??

For Both Kennels

Training has "peaked," meaning that the dogs are now in the physical shape they need to be in for the Iditarod.  The next four weeks are spent maintaining that physical conditioning and addressing any "weak spots" in the training that may have been noted during January's races and long runs.  

Of course, food drops and equipment preparation and modification are also continuing.

For Seavey's Iditarod Racing Team

"We are gearing up for Tyrell and Dallas Seavey to each run a team in this year's Junior Iditarod.  Tyrell is busy putting together the best possible team to help him defend his championship.  Since he is 17, this will be his last year in the Jr. Iditarod, as he will be 18 and old enough to run the "big" Iditarod next year.  This will be Dallas' first Junior, and he has been working very hard all winter with a team of younger dogs.  We are eager to see how both teams do in the race.  Remember:  when Tyrell ran his first Junior, he beat his older brother, Danny (who had finished the 2 previous Jr. Iditarods in 2nd place), by two places!  Anything is possible."

For Snowcrest Racing Sled Dogs

"We, too, are gearing up for one more race before the Iditarod.  Cindy Gallea will be running in this year's Race to the Sky in Montana.  She will have a mixed team of yearling dogs and some dogs that have been in training with Jim for the Iditarod.  She is excited to have a fun time with her team, but with 2 previous second-place finishes in the race, she may decide to "race" a little, too.

"In addition, we are preparing the truck and all the necessary equipment for Jim to take to Alaska immediately after the Race to the Sky is over.  Lots of extra dog food plus sleds, warm clothes, harnesses, ganglines, and the like, must be prepared and packed."