What's new with m&m&k?: Tanana River Race

2009 is proving to be a busy year for us - too busy to keep up with the blog apparently. We'll see what spring brings, but I think we're all happy to have February behind us...seemed darker and colder than usual this year - I think we're just ready for spring. Speaking of spring, it may not be here officially, but the brighter evenings, the warmer temperatures and the wonderfully heavy spring snows we've been getting make it feel like another winter is over.

We're also almost through another race season as the second to last race of the year happened last Saturday. Snow was still falling the morning of the race, the end of an overnight storm that brought another 4 or 5 inches. The temperature was mild and everyone was happy to be outside on such a beautiful day. Kieran may have been the most excited of the bunch. He was everywhere! Checking out the dog teams, following skiers, walking in the deep snow...totally happy to be there with all the pre-race activity happening around him. He tried out a mushing sled briefly...we've heard that kids start mushing in Fairbanks at around 3 or 4 years old, but their parents have to duct tape their hands to the sled handle so they don't fall off. Hmm, maybe Kieran will be sticking with skis for awhile.

Rachel manages the race results and season standings. Can't do that without breakfast!

The McEnteer's team, also know as "the puppies".

Kieran visited with nearly all the dogs. Boy, does he love dogs!

Radar is more of a mascot than a musher these days...and boy does he love kids. He stayed close to Kieran throughout the day, maybe more to catch nibbles from a sloppy eater than for companionship, but they were really cute together.

Another visit - he wanted to say hi to everyone.

Kieran and this guy were wearing the same booties. Godot is a HUGE dog! He makes Kieran look like a runt in this picture.

After an hour or so of sorting skis, dogs, harnesses, etc. Kieran was ready to get the show on the road. He stood by his chariot waiting for Max to load him up.

Off they go! Max and Kieran at the start. The course was an 8 mile loop down the Tanana River and back.

I borrowed a couple of dogs from our friend Tom and tried out the skijor harness Max gave me for Christmas. It was a fun stroll down the course and back. Little Knik was a real puller but he couldn't pull both me AND Siku all 8 miles...poor Siku is a bit too big and shaggy to be racing on such a warm day. He spent a lot of time rolling around in the deep snow right off the trail trying to cool off.

After the race everyone gathered around a fire cooking sausages and marshmallows on willow branches waiting for the last finishers and the results to be tallied.

Lunch. It tasted better than it looks.

Kieran continued his exploring after the race. We couldn't believe how he was lasting out there! We were outside for almonst 6 hours and he was still going strong when we walked him back to the car to go home.

Max and Kieran came in third...again. It was later discovered that they actually tied for second, moving Max and little K up a little further in the standings. Chocolate Easter bunnies and stuffed dogs were the prizes for this race.