Hike, hike hike!

Most eyes are probably on the Northern Lights 300 which is well underway now with the leaders closing on the first 50 miles. However there are two other races in progress too, the Two Rivers 100 and 200. SPK has teams in both. Aliy is doing more of a training run as she starts to see who will be on her Red Team for the YQ 300 and then the Iditarod.
Apprentice/Handlers Wes and Chris will be running other teams. The Surfiver pups are running their first real race, the 100 miler, with this year's mamas Quito and Olivia to help show them how it is done. They won't be trying to win anything but it is still super thrilling to know they are out there in their first real race!!  Allen is staying home as he concentrates on his Black Team for the big YQ race, which is really just around the corner. Short almost-sprint races are not in the training plan for his chosen bunch. They need to be building endurance and stretching out to toughen and strengthen for a grueling course in just a couple of weeks now.

I only occasionally borrow a photo from the SPK blog but I have to share this shot of the Surfivers in harness and rearing to go!  In this shot from left to right, Ernie, Scooby, Ginger and Rodney (behind Ginger). Five was just out of the picture in the third pair.They are lookin' good!! If you've been reading this blog for awhile you know how special these pups are to me, particularly Ginger! I could hardly be prouder if I had raised them myself!