OUR FIRST 100 MILER!!!

We did it!!! We finished our first 100 mile race, and I can easily say we are hooked and there WILL be plenty more to come! What a blasts it was! We did however came in last place, but we learned a lot on this race, and know it will benefit us in the years to come.

We left the starting shoot at 9:02 A.M. with bib number 2. The team was Kaleeta and Watt in lead, with Cree and Roland in swing, Wallace, Yoda, Aryan, Marocca Bones, and Rimbey and Lumos. The team flew across the 4 miles of lake, and crossed the two roads, and we were under way. We didn't get passed until we were about 8 miles out when Adam Cummings and a few other Alaskans teams, breezed by us. It was a little warmer than I would of liked but that is one thing we can't control for sure. About 20 miles out, I had to bag my 65 lb dog (Aryan) he rode in the sled for about 5 miles, and he certainly picked the toughest miles to ride in the sled for, where it seemed like it was all up hill, he seemed sore on his front... After the 5 miles he was screaming his head off, and wanted back on the team, back on the team he went. He settled right in to a nice pace and away we went. It was really getting warm at this point, and we were trudging along. A little after 3 P.M. we pulled into the checkpoint, and I can easily say the dogs looked a lot better than me, I was hot and tired and thirsty! First thing first take care of the dogs and get them bedded down for some rests. I hooked down the front of the team, removed booties, undid tuglines, fed everyone, checked dogs over well, and treated two slight sore shoulders, everyone was in great spirits and bedded down within 40 minutes of pulling into the checkpoint! Not bad for a rookie! Once the team was secure and calm, I felt safe enough to go to the bathroom get some chilly and two bottles of water and some energy boost...CHOCOLATE!!! Back out to check on the team, and they were sitting up at this point watching all the teams pulling out. I talked to mom and Jaye and Jayes handler for awhile, and than it was about time for Jaye to pull out. I was scheduled to leave about 45 mins after her. The 45 minutes went by fasts, as I was getting the team rebooted and gearing them up to go. I put on their red collars and we set out across the lake. At first I was wondering if the team was even going to go, but heading out of the checkpoint they surprised me and kicked it over drive and we literally tore out of there!!! I put on the Ipod and away we rolled. The first 20 miles went by so fasts as we were averaging 14 mph. I caught the team that left about a half hour ahead of me and passed her, which later on we played leap frog throughout the last part of the race. The snowstorm hit us about 24 miles from the finish line and it was coming down so fasts, that visibility was null all the time! I could only see the two dogs in front of the sled. I was soaked, and hot, and was just running up hill after hill after hill. Finally we crossed the finish line around midnight. I dropped Wallace at the checkpoint due to a sore hind end, but the other 10 dogs all finished the race, and finished happy and strong! I can easily say what a great experience! And thanks to everyone who helped us get to this goal!!! And especially thanks to my mom and step dad Mike! :)

Enjoy the photos below!

~Fort Illio~

Our first race of the season...

Last weekend was our first race of the season, it was the low key 33 mile race we go to every year in Brownville Maine. As always the club and organizers put on a great race! As well as having all the volunteers around to help was a huge advantage.

The team was Kaleeta, Cree, Wat, Roland, Yoda, Marocca, Rimbey, and Lumos! We did the full 33 miles in 3 hrs and 23 mins, with only a few minutes behind 12 dog teams. We were the fastest 8 dog team to come in, and looked extremely strong coming in. That to me is our goal! Here is the link for the results http://www.critterwoods.com/RACE%20RESULTS.htm As well as some photos below to view, all 3 photos are of us coming in after running 33 miles! Enjoy! Now we are gearing up for the 100 miler race this weekend, stay tuned!!




Happy Trails!!!

~Fort Illio~

Photos, and update

We are a bit bummed that our first 100 miler that was supposed to take off this weekend, has been cancelled due to lack of snow...this has been a pretty messed up winter. We are supposed to get some snow tomorrow, so lets hope we do, so we can get back at training in full swing. We went to Jefferson, NH to meet up with some friends and did some running there. All the photos below were taken by Kim and Kelly Berg. Awesome job girls! Thats all for now, enjoy the photos, and think snow!!!

~Fort Illio~


Team

Dixie

Cree

Cree

Bones

Snow=Happy Dogs & Happy Mushers!

It has been a very busy month this past month, with getting laid off, and signing up for school, a trip out to MN and back, and running dogs, and getting ready for christmas...PHEW! Where has the time gone...

So first thing, yes I got laid off, but not at all bummed about it! I have decided to follow my dream and go back to school and become a veterinary technician! I am excited about the outcome, but not all excited about the schooling, but am very ambitious and motivated to get this done ASAP! Which includes working my butt off in the summer months as well! :)Will be such a help with this degree for sure!

Second thing, we made an awesome trip yet again to MN and back. Just can't stay away from there! We drove straight thru, and arrived right on time. Had some excellent runs out there on sled with the whole crew. Of course Kasey can't go to MN, and not bring anything back that has fur and 4 legs!? So we have two awesome boys here for the next few months to help me accomplish my goals this year. Wat and Roland are 5 years olds, they are brothers and have finished the Iditarod twice! With setting the fastest pure bred team in Iditarod history both times. They are available for stud use, while they are here in New England. It was just an awesome trip, and wish it could of lasted a month or so longer! But responsibilities always seem to get in the way...
Wat & Roalnd
So the next few months are going to be just as busy with training/racing dogs, and going to school, but its going to be so worth it in the end! Team is shaping up nicely, quite impressed with them, and how much further they are ahead from last year at this time. We have our first 100 miler in 3 weeks, and we are a little behind than I wanted to be, but not enough to really set us back too much. Either way we are going to have a blast doing what we love!

At this moment we are getting hammered on with snow, which is what we really needed! Now we can be on sleds as of tomorrow! Just going to be tough going, breaking trail but it will be a great work out for the dogs! :)

The puppies are doing awesome, and not really puppies anymore, they are huge! I mean huge! They are out with the big dogs now, and are such pros! :) They will be on moms team this year, just going out for the fun runs!

Well hope everyone had a great christmas, as did I. Hope you all have a Happy and Safe New Year, and Happy Trails! Below are some photos for you to enjoy!

Until Next Time....

~Fort Illio Kennels~

What do we do in Fall?

Well we run dogs, run dogs and did I mention run dogs! :) Finally training season is here and we are clicking right along. Team is shaping up nicely, considering a minor slow start in Aug and Sept due to the warmer weather, but nothing that got us too worried. All our race entries have been sent in, and we just can't wait for the season to start!

We just came back from a nice camping trip with the dogs this past weekend. We went to the NH Trade fair, and had a great time, meeting people, talking with friends, running dogs...what more could you ask for? Puppies did great on their first excursion in the dog truck, first night they whined a bit, but second night they were much better! Now hopefully they won't forget about it next time they go on a trip! We have had the pups in harness a couple of times, and WOW! They both did awesome! It only took them each a few strides to take to their instincts. Amazing pups they are!

Well just a quick posts to let everyone know what we have been up to! Busy busy running the dogs!

Talk soon! Happy trails!

~Fort Illio~

Trip to MN, and MISC. News...

Well the trip to MN went great! No issues on the way there or on the way back, PHEW! :) It was a quick trip unfortunately, where we both had to get back to work way too early. Regardless we still had a great visit with Blake and Jen, baby Elena, and dogs. We brought back our newest addition Bones, who is settling in fabulously! He is really taking to me a lot lately, loves the one on one attention of being groomed, but not the actual grooming itself. Mom bought the dogs this Kong ball and he loves it, so while being groomed he constantly has that in his mouth, and taking all anger and frustration out on that! That is the type of character that boy is! Always gets my laughing every time I go in the dog yard, which is many times a day! :) We ran him for the first time last weekend, and he was phenomenal. He definitely did not look like a yearling that's for sure! Some of my favorite pictures for you to enjoy of MN and Bones are below, the rest can be see at this link. http://picasaweb.google.com/fortillio/TripToMNJenAndBlakes#
Bones
Kotka's nephew (Hickory)
Bones Mom (Domita)

Now some sad news, we lost our Ryder boy on the 19th of Aug. Shortly after we got back from MN. He wasn't eating, checked him all over and his gums were yellow. Turns out after taking him to the vets that he had Liver cancer. His liver levels were 3634
and 2614, where they are supposed to be between 100-200. How this happened so fasts and sudden is beyond me. It was very devastating and shocking for us. He was only 8. And prior to the lasts 4 days of his life, he was fine...that just shows us once again how quick cancer works its way through. He was a very valuable team member, and is going to be deeply missed off the team this year. Fortunately we have some pups from him, that hopefully will carry his same drive and determination he had.
Bonnie Lundburg had sent this to me when I lost Ryder, I think it is perfect! :) "Doggie Heaven"
Ryder

On a brighter note we have been out a couple of times with the cooler mornings here in Maine. Team is looking good, and it looks like we will be able to make it out towards the end of this week as well. I imagine within the next week or so, training will be a lot more consistent, once the weather cools down for good. I am looking forward to this racing year, we are signed up for 2 100 mile races, as well as the Can Am 60 again. Should be an adventurous year... but than again when isn't it!?

Well I think that is all the news for now! Phew! Hoping to get some more pictures of the puppies that are not so much puppies anymore, and the new boy Bones soon. Stay tuned!

Hope for cooler weather!

~Fort Illio~

DONE! PHEW!

Well I can say the kennel is done for the mosts part!! We just have a few odd and end stuff to touch up on, but when don't you!? The dogs love the new kennel, and can really get moving in it, but they still arn't so sure of the play yard yet. When we turn them all loose they have all three sections of kennel to run in, the boy yard, girl yard and play yard. So of course they run out in the play yard, but as of right now they spend mosts of their time in eachothers areas scrounging for food or smelling everything. I believe they will be enjoying the play yard a little more in a few weeks when we can really start training heavy. They will never want to leave the play yard! LOL! With this new setup we can leave right from the yard. We got to practice that last weekend where it was cool enough to run! Oh what luxury it was to hook up at your own yard and not have to truck somewhere! It was so nice! :) Dogs were great on the new trails, and listened well to all the commands. We definately had the leaders on their toes with all the new commands, and coming out of the gate and going back in, all did so well! Pictures below.

Now we have been trying to get the dog building done ASAP. It's always a working progress, but we are coming along on it, and it will be so nice to have a building just for dog stuff! Can't wait to get it all organized. Pictures below as well.

Puppies are growing like weeds! In a week or so they will be on tie outs, so I am sure they will be telling me off about that. :) It's that time. They are so smart, and fun to have around! :)

This week we are heading to MN to get one more addition to Team Fort Illio. Stay tuned for more details. Well thats all the news for now. Enjoy all the photos! And pray for cooler weather!

~Fort Illio~

Dog building
4-wheeler ready for some dogs!
Exit Gate
Play yard
1st Training run of the season :)
Dixie and Waylon
Tippin
Tippin with my camera case.
Waylon and Tippin
Dog Building
Handsome Waylon
Puppies
Dixie and Tippin