Update on YQ races

It's now old news that Aliy and the Red Team came in second. She posted a great report on the SPKennelDogLog blog about a misadventure and a fellow musher's--a former student/apprentice handler-- help in a tricky situation and the performance and contribution of each dog. She finished with ten of the initial twelve but no big problems. Her handlers took them home while she's now gone on to Dawson where the big rest stop happens for all the racers in the 1000 miler. Allen and the Black Team have arrived there in good shape, all fourteen four footed members still going strong.

YQ is very different from the Iditarod in that there are few mandatory rests except the midway one where each racer is required to take thirty six hours and the start differential is computed into that lengthy break. Also unlike the Iditarod where no real help is allowed except in emergency situations, at this one spot the handler/helper team can take over care of the dogs and let the musher have a real rest. I think this is a quiet testament to the fact that the trail is really rough, three high climbs and slippery descents and many fewer checkpoints. A good rest is critical to both the dogs and their human team member.

SPK has pitched a big tent and all the dogs are inside bedded down in straw there for a good rest. Allen gets to sleep as long as he needs to while the handlers, with Aliy lending a hand, take care of the dogs. Since the top five racers so far are all there at about the same time, they'll be leaving much the same so it will be a bit slow for a day and a half! Other racers will be streaming in also and each settling for their mandatory break. The last I heard, Allen is still in second place behind Brent Sass. They may well be racing close together for the rest of the trail along with the others in the top five. It promises to be exciting in a few more days!

There was a great article in an Alaskan newspaper forwarded to me by a friend--my host last June, in fact--that gives a good feel of this race. It is smaller and does not get the hype and promo blast of the Iditarod; the Quest is still a real mushers' race.   I expect that Joe Redington is rolling in his grave at what 'his' race has become--a regular five ring media circus. In a way I am disappointed too but it is what it is. That is what makes the Yukon Quest unique and special, though. I hope it gets a little more publicity but not too much!!

At any rate, no study of the women who run these endurance races would be complete without a good coverage of the Yukon Quest. Mary Shields also ran it several times in its early days and thus far, the only woman who has won it is Aliy. Women have been involved from the early days and that is good! This year several women are running, well back in the pack behind the five current leaders but just to complete this one is certainly as big a challenge as the Iditarod to the degree no finisher is a in any way a 'loser'. If you finish you are a WINNER.

As it winds down, I will try to do a short honor roll story on the women who complete this year's race.