Wat needs a sponsor!!!!

The next team member is Wat! A very tough rock solid lead dog. He has quite the race history including finishing 2 Iditarods with Blake and Jen Freking. He is tough as nails, and such an incredible lead dog. He has led me in several races since he came to our kennel 5 years ago. Hard to believe he is already 10, but his age is definitely not slowing him down any. He is training up with the main team and we are hoping he can lead some of his offspring in some of the up and coming races. It's easy to say probably the best male dog I have ever had the pleasure to have on my team. He is all business and focus, and is the meaning of run hard rest hard. If his offspring turns out only half as good as he is I will be a very happy musher! Wat is in need of some sponsors this year, and as you can see he really deserves them! Go to our website www.fortilliokennels.com to sponsor Wat for only $50.00!!!!

Waylon needs a sponsor!

The next boy that's up for sponsorship is Waylon! It is an understatement to say that he is one magnificent boy! He has never been injured, a very hard puller, and a major speed pusher! He has run lead many times, and does the best up there when the conditions are tough. He is like a freight train and just plows his way through! Waylon is a love bug in the kennel, and will rub all 72 lbs of him all over you like a cat. Lets make this boy proud and get him some sponsors, he definitely deserves it! Just $50.00 to sponsor this big boy! Thanks in advance! 

Sable is in need of a sponsor!!

 Fort Illio's Saving Able "Sable" is in need of a sponsor!! Sable is an exuberant leader. Very driven and speedy girl! With just turning 4 in June, its easy to say she will be one of the main race leaders this coming year. She has a great appetite, and a very smooth effortless gait! We know this girl will be a big asset to the race teams this year! Only $50.00 to sponsor Sable. Go to our website www.fortilliokennels.com to sponsor her or any other team members! Thanks in advance!

Sponsorships after 4 years!!!

It has been 4 years since I have asked for sponsors. With having the past two years off of not really racing due to schooling, it is an understatement to state that we are VERY EAGER to get to the races this season. We plan to do as many races as possible and we need your help to get us there. We plan to enter 2 teams in most races and to do one or 2 fun and exciting new races. We have a lot of young and capable dogs on the team this year that need to get exposed to distance racing. With saying this I would like to take a moment and let you know just how much race entries will be for this up coming season, and this is just alone race entries, not including fuel for traveling and to stay in motels at the races, and never mind gear and training expenses. Race entries alone will be anywhere from $ 800.00- $900.00 and possibly more. So if you feel that you want to join our team and follow our up and coming adventure during these winter months than please go to our website to learn more about sponsorships! www.fortilliokennels.com The team and I will be forever grateful and we look forward to hearing from you! 

Also I want to let you know that every week over the next few weeks I will be posting about each dog on the team this year so you can get to know these wonderful and capable athletes. Each one brings something special to the team.

It's only $ 50.00 to sponsor a dog for this season, and we even have a few for just $25.00! Or you can sponsor the whole team for just $150.00! Thanks in advance!

Catch up!

So I realize it has been awhile sense I last posted on this! Been very busy with finishing up college. Finally graduated as a Veterinary Technician. Need to take the big test within the next couple of months to become Licensed. And than I will be done with that chapter and onto some more exciting things! 

This past March we made yet another trip out to Blake and Jen Freking's Kennel and picked up two new pups! Edda and Hydro. They bring some exciting new lines to our kennel and we are excited to have them become apart of the team. 

We have been getting the teams out as much as possible and when the temperatures allow. Really hoping we can continue this all summer, but with the humidity I doubt it. We have some exciting new and young leaders coming up and should have a very good racing season next year. We have some big plans this race season, as long as things all fall into place! More on that later. 

My knee is healing nicely, I have about 90% movement back, and can stretch it out 100% without too much pull. Doing stretches and exercises to get it back into shape. Slowly but surely! That is definitely one body part I never want to injure again... Such a long recovery time. UGH! 
Anyhow no more news really until we have pups, which hopefully will be by the end of summer! 
*Stay Tuned*
Fort Illio Kennels

Brownville Race Jan 31st 2015

With temperatures, weather and my last year of college this year hasn't been the greatest for us to get the team to the races! However we were able to pull off a fun race in Brownville Maine. Mom ran 6 dogs in the 20 mile class, and those fabulous 6 were, Wallace and Roland leading, with Drake and Komatsu behind, followed in wheel was Kubota and Timberjack. She had a nice clean run, very slow going due to the night before and half the morning they got about a foot of fresh snow. But she had fun and made it an positive experience for her younger dogs on the team. Her time was 2 hrs and 55 minutes and came in 8th place out of 12 teams! I ran the open class with 10 dogs and did 30 miles. My team was Wat, Bones, Kaltag, Rev, Sable, Throttle, Ace, Renegade, Waylon and Hinder. We came in 3rd out of 4 teams with a time of 3 hrs and 40 mins. Team worked really hard and did everything I had asked them to. The week before this race I had whiped out on an icey section of trail and tore my left knee, it kept popping in and out the rest of the way home with the team, which was 7 miles. I wasn't going to run this race due to my knee, but the trail was slow, and I really wanted to get the younger dogs exposed to a race. Especially the ones that have never raced before. So I pushed through it, but wasn't able to help the team at all. But we had fun none the less and that is what it is all about! :) We also had loaned out a few dogs at the race as well. Linda Powers ran Dixie in lead on her 20 mile team. And than Catherine Benson ran Yoda, Rosa, and Nikolai in the open 30 mile class. All dogs did well and finished strong.

Just want to take the moment and thank everyone for the support and help we have received in the past! Makes things a little easier for us that's for sure!

Not sure if we are going to do anymore races this year or not. Haven't really had the teams out much due to my knee, and how I keep re injuring it. I guess I need to just let the knee heal and worry about next year. Next year we have BIG plans and so stay tuned for them!

Meanwhile here are some photos of the race! Enjoy!

 Getting ready for take off!

 Taking Off!

 At the truck, teams are waiting!

 At the starting line!

 Coming into the finish!

 Coming into the finish!

 Mom taking off!

All the trophy winners!

Fall is our favorite time of year... well that is until SNOW COMES!

It has been awhile sense we checked in. A lot of things new going on here! I am still in college and now am in all the good classes where we are learning so much and doing a lot of hands on stuff! Way better than text books that's for sure! The only downfall with school is now it is way more demanding than before so racing may not be what we want it to be this year. We may be lucky to get in two races this year. But time will tell.

Of course this is the year that the teams are really rocking and we have more training runs and miles on than we have EVER had this time of year. It is amazing to me because with mom being down from back surgery and me running 28 dogs (two teams) we are able to keep the teams rolling and really putting in some outstanding runs! Mom will be down until about mid January so no running dogs for her until then! Thanks that I have my boyfriend Dj, his kids and great neighbors (Late Start Kennel) for helping me get the teams out safely!

I have 14 veterans on my team this year and they really are rocking! We have more leaders than ever before and they all want to lead all the time! On moms team she has all the yearlings and a few older team members to help train those crazy yearlings! The yearlings are doing amazing this year, and it is so fun to watch them really get it and have such drive!

Dixie's pups are growing like weeds, and when I say that they are all legs! I will post some photos of them in this blog! As well as some training run photos.

Well got to get back to studying. Hope all are enjoying their fall time! Until next time here are some photos! 

 Wat and Kaltag

 Puppy team

 Dixie and Wat's pups

Wat and Yoda

Happy Trails!

~Fort Illio~