Mike finished the 2010 Yukon Quest with the fastest Siberian Husky team in the history of the race, finishing the race in 13th place. Mike's team is AKC registered and his passion is racing. He sold his house and moved to Alaska, to train his celebrated team, with his wife and partner in his endeavor to focus on his Siberian Huskies and the Yukon Quest.
Let’s start with the Yukon Quest 2010? Walk us through the race this year, including your triumphs and struggles.
The whole team is AKC registered. It consisted of dogs from four litters and all the dogs are closely related. Hawkeye, Stump (leader), and Mugs(leader) are littermates and Gila(leader) is their half sister. Mugs had 6 of her kids start with her: Logan, Merlin(leader), Trip(leader), Lotus(leader), Moon(leader), and Cassin. Gila had 4 of her kids ran the whole way with her: Wilson(leader), Eliza(leader), Reba(superstar leader), and Hood. Three dogs were dropped, all within the first 300 miles: Hawkeye at Central due to injuries sustained on rough trail. Cassin at Circle with a shoulder muscle strain. Stump at Slavens with a sore back. Only Moon and Cassin were Quest rookies. Cassin was a last minute substitution for Ambler, who got a sore shoulder just before the race. Once Stump was dropped, Reba, Eliza, Mugs, and Gila did the majority of the leading. Those four girls have all now finished two Quests.
How did this race compare to 2008 and 2009?
It was similar in some ways to 2008, but both the dogs and I were so much more ready. I kind of feel like this year is what was supposed to happen in 2009. Last year we just had too much bad luck that wouldn't quit and eventually drove us out of the race. This year, we did a better job overcoming the rough spots and adjusting to circumstances we were confronted with. There's no substitute for experience and the confidence it brings in the whole team. We also just had better luck this year, but often that is created.
The sisters Reba and Eliza are amazing to me. Reba is the brains, Eliza is the speed, but that simplifies it greatly. I guess I can't say they were a surprise. Mugs and Moon were the real surprises. Mugs had started the training season retired. Her performance in training earned her a spot back on the team and she went on to finish 1700 miles of very competitive racing this year. Moon is the smallest member of the team. She only weighs about 30 pounds, yet she made the team and finished both the Copper Basin and Yukon Quest pulling hard.
How do you train for a race of the magnitude?
We set a goal for the season and figure out how to train for it. This year, the whole goal for the kennel for the entire year was to break 11 days in Quest. We trained for low intensity, long duration runs. We trained for fast recovery time. Going in to Quest this year we had 3000 miles on them. We actually wanted more than that but felt we peaked the team a little too early and slacked off the miles going in to the Quest. We ensure the dogs are fed and hydrated correctly and keep stress as low as possible, whatever the trail brings. We build confidence within the team and keep them as comfortable and as happy as we can no matter the conditions, terrain, or how we as mushers are feeling. The more you do for your dogs, the more they'll do for you.
Well, we have a small kennel, so we only have a couple of eligible running dogs that don't make the team. Our old and young dogs run, but they aren't in the Quest pool.
What is the criteria for a Siberian to be selected?
They have to want to run, but we've never had one that didn't! Really we only get to make a couple of cuts from the eligible dogs, so team selection around here is pretty easy.
Working at it. There just aren't many folks trying. It takes a huge commitment to run this race multiple consecutive years but that's what it takes to improve. It's very expensive and very time consuming.
It certainly helped having consistent weather and trails to train the team. We had an earlier start to our season and never had to deal with a thaw, allowing us more training miles than we've ever had. This summer, I hope to maintain more baseline fitness within the team by running all summer, whenever temperatures allow. We won't be starting from scratch next fall.
We have a dogfood sponsorship from Loyall Dogfood and feed their Professional food year-round. During training and racing, we supplement with various meats and fats in meals and as trail snacks. Feeding routine is crucial to success on the trail. Feeding on a 1000-mile race is unlike anything else. It's almost impossible to feed them too much, but it's easy to feed them too much at once. Frequency, variety, and quantity of snacks and meals depend on how far in to the race we are and weather conditions and run duration.
How much food do take with you on the race?
About 1200 pounds of meat and kibble gets sent out to the checkpoints for resupply on Quest. A bit more than half of that gets used, but having the variety and quantity you need for all circumstances is needed.
How mentally taxing is the race on you and the dogs?
Honestly, the lack of sleep is probably the hardest thing mentally for them. They are so used to getting on down the trail, that isn't stressful for them. Not getting enough sleep and having to get up and go when you are tired can be tough. But just like a musher feeling better once they get back outside, the dogs rejuvenate after they shake off the grogginess and get moving.
All eleven of our finishers could have taken a 6 hour rest at the finish and been ready to turn around and go back to Fairbanks. If the race was 2000 miles, we might have been running for the win!
In the past, we have only been able to free run the dogs in the summer. Now that we are in Alaska, we hope to continue with light harness work throughout the year.
There's nothing you can't improve on if you will dedicate the time to your dogs. Get to know your dogs better each day and learn what they need to perform to their potential. Respect your dogs.
Our dogs are pretty closely related, but we've only bred four litters in our career. One in 1998, two in 2005, and one last summer. We are currently looking for suitable outcross potential. We'd like to add more of what we have: athletic, moderate in size and shape, driven and happy dogs.
Structurally, what are you looking for when selecting your dogs to run this race?
I like head and chest to be smaller that most Siberians I see. Mostly, I am looking for athletic, reasonably angulated, moderate dogs that want nothing more than to get down the trail. Ideally, they have a smooth, powerful trot that doesn't tax them. I don't care at all about top speed because we never run anywhere near that fast. My hardest working dog ever and father to the Mugs and Gila litters was our Jim. He has the most awkward gait over 12 mph, but I'll be lucky if I ever have a dog that puts as much on the gangline as he always did.
The standard is reasonable as I read it now. I think some of the detail could be deleted, but that the general appearance and summary hit the important points. I think our dogs are within the current standard, but I doubt they'd do well in the show ring. We are looking for moderation of size and structure while having enough athleticism to perform. Most of all, they need attitude and desire to go.
Size
I have honestly never put a ruler next to any of my dogs. Our girls weigh between 30-42 pounds and our boys are 42-55 pounds. Fairly small compared to most dogs on the trail.
Fronts
Not too straight.
Well furred paws
I trim them every week.
Not too angulated.
Weight
I wouldn't be opposed to some bigger boys. Most, if not all, of our kennel would be too small by the original 1930 standard.
Four is preferred. Longer is nice if it's in correct proportion.
Temperaments
They need to be happy and enjoy what we're doing. That's mostly my job.
If someone wanted to breed to one of your Siberians, what could they expect to get?
First they could expect the third degree about their program and plans and the dog they wish to use. We have no desire to breed to anything but exceptional dogs. There are already far too many marginal Siberians out there. I'll let what our dogs can do stand on it's own...
No, we have no plans to run that other race. While I would love to see the trail, I think we and our team are better suited for the Yukon Quest. Iditarod is overly expensive and I dislike their attitude toward rookies, the corporate/political nature of it, and their lack of focus on the dogs and teams throughout the entire field. Maybe in time we will get to see that trail, but for now, the Yukon Quest is our race.
Mike, I understand that your wife Sue ran the team to a 4th place finish at the Two Rivers 200 and won the Vet's Choice Award. Congratulations to her and the team! It's nice to keep it all in the family. Thank you for your participation.
This was my third Quest. After finishing my rookie year, I had decided I could really step it up last year. We ended up scratching after 750 miles. So this year, I guess the biggest triumph was getting back to the finish line and having the monkey of a scratch off my back. Secondly, we had a goal of finishing under eleven days. This was fairly ambitious since the fastest any Siberian team had ever done in either of the 1000-mile races was over 11 days and 21 hours. It meant taking a day and a half off our own 2008 finishing time. Our time this year was 10 days 20 hours and 29 minutes. That would have been good enough for third place overall in 2008. We had 11 strong, happy dogs at the finish and no dogs had been dropped for the last 700 miles. There are always struggles and I am still learning how to better overcome them. Dropping Stump at Slavens was certainly a low point. He injured his back and had to be carried in the sled over 40 miles. He has been my crutch when things get tough because he can read my mind. The other dogs knew when Stump was dropped. I also was unfortunate to get sick on the trail again and couldn't keep food down for almost five days. I lost a bunch of weight and was low on energy. But the trail was mostly good. The temperatures were relatively moderate (-30 to +35). We only had about 25 miles of ground blizzard on the Yukon. All in all, we had a solid trip, but with lots of room for improvement
.
Can you name the Siberians that ran the race with you?
The whole team is AKC registered. It consisted of dogs from four litters and all the dogs are closely related. Hawkeye, Stump (leader), and Mugs(leader) are littermates and Gila(leader) is their half sister. Mugs had 6 of her kids start with her: Logan, Merlin(leader), Trip(leader), Lotus(leader), Moon(leader), and Cassin. Gila had 4 of her kids ran the whole way with her: Wilson(leader), Eliza(leader), Reba(superstar leader), and Hood. Three dogs were dropped, all within the first 300 miles: Hawkeye at Central due to injuries sustained on rough trail. Cassin at Circle with a shoulder muscle strain. Stump at Slavens with a sore back. Only Moon and Cassin were Quest rookies. Cassin was a last minute substitution for Ambler, who got a sore shoulder just before the race. Once Stump was dropped, Reba, Eliza, Mugs, and Gila did the majority of the leading. Those four girls have all now finished two Quests.
How did this race compare to 2008 and 2009?
It was similar in some ways to 2008, but both the dogs and I were so much more ready. I kind of feel like this year is what was supposed to happen in 2009. Last year we just had too much bad luck that wouldn't quit and eventually drove us out of the race. This year, we did a better job overcoming the rough spots and adjusting to circumstances we were confronted with. There's no substitute for experience and the confidence it brings in the whole team. We also just had better luck this year, but often that is created.
I am sure you are proud of all your Siberians however which were you most surprised by their exceptional performance this year?
The sisters Reba and Eliza are amazing to me. Reba is the brains, Eliza is the speed, but that simplifies it greatly. I guess I can't say they were a surprise. Mugs and Moon were the real surprises. Mugs had started the training season retired. Her performance in training earned her a spot back on the team and she went on to finish 1700 miles of very competitive racing this year. Moon is the smallest member of the team. She only weighs about 30 pounds, yet she made the team and finished both the Copper Basin and Yukon Quest pulling hard.
How do you train for a race of the magnitude?
We set a goal for the season and figure out how to train for it. This year, the whole goal for the kennel for the entire year was to break 11 days in Quest. We trained for low intensity, long duration runs. We trained for fast recovery time. Going in to Quest this year we had 3000 miles on them. We actually wanted more than that but felt we peaked the team a little too early and slacked off the miles going in to the Quest. We ensure the dogs are fed and hydrated correctly and keep stress as low as possible, whatever the trail brings. We build confidence within the team and keep them as comfortable and as happy as we can no matter the conditions, terrain, or how we as mushers are feeling. The more you do for your dogs, the more they'll do for you.
In determining who will run the Yukon Quest, when do you select the Siberians that will run this race?
Well, we have a small kennel, so we only have a couple of eligible running dogs that don't make the team. Our old and young dogs run, but they aren't in the Quest pool.
What is the criteria for a Siberian to be selected?
They have to want to run, but we've never had one that didn't! Really we only get to make a couple of cuts from the eligible dogs, so team selection around here is pretty easy.
Knowing that you have the fastest Siberians to ever run the Yukon Quest, what do you attribute that to?
Working at it. There just aren't many folks trying. It takes a huge commitment to run this race multiple consecutive years but that's what it takes to improve. It's very expensive and very time consuming.
Did moving to Alaska help to improve your times as well as the conditioning of your dogs?
It certainly helped having consistent weather and trails to train the team. We had an earlier start to our season and never had to deal with a thaw, allowing us more training miles than we've ever had. This summer, I hope to maintain more baseline fitness within the team by running all summer, whenever temperatures allow. We won't be starting from scratch next fall.
What do you feed the dogs while running the race and what do you feed them during the year while they are preparing for the race?
We have a dogfood sponsorship from Loyall Dogfood and feed their Professional food year-round. During training and racing, we supplement with various meats and fats in meals and as trail snacks. Feeding routine is crucial to success on the trail. Feeding on a 1000-mile race is unlike anything else. It's almost impossible to feed them too much, but it's easy to feed them too much at once. Frequency, variety, and quantity of snacks and meals depend on how far in to the race we are and weather conditions and run duration.
How much food do take with you on the race?
About 1200 pounds of meat and kibble gets sent out to the checkpoints for resupply on Quest. A bit more than half of that gets used, but having the variety and quantity you need for all circumstances is needed.
How mentally taxing is the race on you and the dogs?
Honestly, the lack of sleep is probably the hardest thing mentally for them. They are so used to getting on down the trail, that isn't stressful for them. Not getting enough sleep and having to get up and go when you are tired can be tough. But just like a musher feeling better once they get back outside, the dogs rejuvenate after they shake off the grogginess and get moving.
How long does it take for the dogs to recover from running the Yukon Quest?
All eleven of our finishers could have taken a 6 hour rest at the finish and been ready to turn around and go back to Fairbanks. If the race was 2000 miles, we might have been running for the win!
What kind of training do you do all year round?
In the past, we have only been able to free run the dogs in the summer. Now that we are in Alaska, we hope to continue with light harness work throughout the year.
What advice would you give the owners of recreational sled teams on how to improve their performances on the trail?
There's nothing you can't improve on if you will dedicate the time to your dogs. Get to know your dogs better each day and learn what they need to perform to their potential. Respect your dogs.
Do you breed line breed or have you outcrosses in your breeding program?
Our dogs are pretty closely related, but we've only bred four litters in our career. One in 1998, two in 2005, and one last summer. We are currently looking for suitable outcross potential. We'd like to add more of what we have: athletic, moderate in size and shape, driven and happy dogs.
Structurally, what are you looking for when selecting your dogs to run this race?
I like head and chest to be smaller that most Siberians I see. Mostly, I am looking for athletic, reasonably angulated, moderate dogs that want nothing more than to get down the trail. Ideally, they have a smooth, powerful trot that doesn't tax them. I don't care at all about top speed because we never run anywhere near that fast. My hardest working dog ever and father to the Mugs and Gila litters was our Jim. He has the most awkward gait over 12 mph, but I'll be lucky if I ever have a dog that puts as much on the gangline as he always did.
Are any of the following important when selecting a Siberian for your team?
The standard is reasonable as I read it now. I think some of the detail could be deleted, but that the general appearance and summary hit the important points. I think our dogs are within the current standard, but I doubt they'd do well in the show ring. We are looking for moderation of size and structure while having enough athleticism to perform. Most of all, they need attitude and desire to go.
Size
I have honestly never put a ruler next to any of my dogs. Our girls weigh between 30-42 pounds and our boys are 42-55 pounds. Fairly small compared to most dogs on the trail.
Fronts
Not too straight.
Well furred paws
I trim them every week.
Rears
Not too angulated.
Weight
I wouldn't be opposed to some bigger boys. Most, if not all, of our kennel would be too small by the original 1930 standard.
Leg
Four is preferred. Longer is nice if it's in correct proportion.
Temperaments
They need to be happy and enjoy what we're doing. That's mostly my job.
If someone wanted to breed to one of your Siberians, what could they expect to get?
First they could expect the third degree about their program and plans and the dog they wish to use. We have no desire to breed to anything but exceptional dogs. There are already far too many marginal Siberians out there. I'll let what our dogs can do stand on it's own...
And lastly, are you planning to run the Iditarod?
No, we have no plans to run that other race. While I would love to see the trail, I think we and our team are better suited for the Yukon Quest. Iditarod is overly expensive and I dislike their attitude toward rookies, the corporate/political nature of it, and their lack of focus on the dogs and teams throughout the entire field. Maybe in time we will get to see that trail, but for now, the Yukon Quest is our race.
Mike, I understand that your wife Sue ran the team to a 4th place finish at the Two Rivers 200 and won the Vet's Choice Award. Congratulations to her and the team! It's nice to keep it all in the family. Thank you for your participation.
We would like to help Mike continue his journey of racing the Yukon Quest 2011. This is a very expensive endeavor. Mike is keeping the breed alive by being competitive in a race of this caliber. By donating to Mike, Sue and his team, we are willing to give out free ads to those that donate. Ads will be featured in the August issue. For more information, please go to the top of the screen.
Both USA and International Breeders may participate
