“R” has been the prescription for today with rest, recovery, reading, and recharging. While I don’t feel as well as I’d really, really hoped, I’m trying desperately to improve so I can resume my trail travels. In the meantime, Ruby has been a hot spot for the leaders of our race. Jessie arrived as the first to the Yukon River with Paige just over 2 hours behind him. Neither planned to take their 8 hour here, but revamped that plan. But as Paige explains, the run/rest cycle must coincide with the time of day in order to not get reversed in the warmest and coldest parts of the day. Both worked hard to get to Ruby in a longer run rather than breaking it up into shorter runs. This allows the dogs to get into more of a rhythm. These are the runs more traditional to how the race used to go. Mille Porsild explains is as when you empty the bank you have to put it back in. When the dogs are depleted, they need to rest and recuperate. They definitely need that REM sleep to recharge. That doesn’t mean they don’t stop. They stop, snack, talk about life, wipe snow from their faces, and get them pumped up and ready for the next section. Jessie commented on the respect he had for his team when reaching Ruby as they stepped up and carried a 70 pound dog in the sled as it needed a ride. It definitely takes raw determination to keep up such a rapid pace when on a 10+ hour run on a really slow trail. It’s all about a musher’s uncanny ability to recongnize what their dogs need and when they need it.
Earlier today, some fun was had watching a raven relentlessly work to get some food from one of Paige’s dogs. The raven did have a bit of an advantage since the lead dog being tethered allowed for added bravery. Who would you be rooting for in this situation? Right now though, Jessie Holmes is in Galena with Paige Drobny, Rylie Dyche, Travis Beals, and Mille Porsild, all out of Ruby and nipping at his heals. Paige is running about 15 miles behind Jessie and he is certainly keeping her under his watchful eye. Riley is resting between Ruby and Gelena about 5 miles back. When the leaders will be ready to make their next move is anyone’s guess.
Rrrready, Set, Go!
- Relay Race- Students work to complete a series of any activities, problems, questions, etc. and make it into a relay race with each earning a letter to spelling IDITAROD.
- Resistance- Pull an item across different surfaces such as wood, carpet, paper, etc. and see which is hardest and easiest. Discuss why packed snow is best for sled dogs and how wind resistence affects mushers.
- Roles- Focus on the roles of the dogs in the team. Create a Wanted poster for each “job”.
- Riddle Writing- Write riddles about the race.
- Race Strategy- Calculate miles between checkpoints, average speed, where rests would be taken and how long including the mandatory layovers. Use the data to determine how long it would take to finish and which student’s strategy would “win”.
