Ten Questions with Iditarod Rookie Musher Blake Matray
By: Nikki Allen
With one month until the start of the 2009 Iditarod rookie musher Blake Matray is gearing up for the race. The final stages of training are being implemented and his team is looking wonderful. With questions submitted by 7th and 8th graders from Tallahassee, Florida we asked Blake ten questions about his current training schedule and plan for the race.
1. What races have you run since our last interview?
The Sheep Mountain 150 in December. I was 40th of 43 teams and received the Veterinary Care Award for taking good care of my dogs. We also raced in the Solstice 100 here in Two Rivers the weekend before Christmas. We were 16th of 30 teams after the 1st 50 miles but dropped to 23rd by the finish. I was running mostly my B team dogs.
2. What is a typical training schedule for you heading into this last month before the start of the Iditarod?
We are running every dog about 4 times a week. I’m taking teams on 50-55 mile runs right now and my handlers run teams for 30 miles.
3. What type of weather are you hoping for on the trail to have ideal conditions for your team?
Temperatures between 0 and 15 degrees will suit us just fine. Hard packed trails would be great also.
4. At this point, do you know which 16 dogs will start Iditarod?
No, I know about 12 that I will take for sure and the other 4 spots are still open. It depends on how certain dogs perform over these last five weeks. There’s always a chance a dog will get hurt and that will change the roster. The final cut won’t be made until probably March 3rd.
5. What do you think will be the most challenging part of the race? The Yukon River. The wind always blows in your face and the scenery doesn’t change much.
6. What does the diet for your dogs consist of now, and what will it consist of for the race?
Nutrisource dry dog food with broth. Nutrisource is my only sponsor. The dogs also get meat and frozen salmon for snacks.
7. What does it take to keep you warm out on the trail?
Layers of warm clothing. In arctic environments it’s always best to dress in layers. It helps to trap warm air around your body. I wear a polarguard insulated Parka and pants over a layer of fleece on top of capaline underwear when I’m out mushing.
8. Other than the mandatory items required by Iditarod, what will you carry in your sled? Snacks for me and the dogs. Foot ointment for the dog’s feet. A MP3 player. An extra headlamp. Freeze dried meals for me. Extra harness or two. A spare section of gangline and an extra set of runner plastic for the sled.
9. Will you have any specific strategy as to how you will run the race?
I plan to be steady and not run the dogs too far or too fast early on. It’s essentially a marathon, so it pays to pace your team. I plan to maintain a 1:1 run to rest time ratio.
10. What will you enjoy most about being out on the trail with your team? Just that. I plan to enjoy being out on the trail of the Last Great Race with my dogs.
Looks like Blake and his team are ready to embark on the journey of the Last Great Race. Let’s keep our eye on his team while they race to Nome!
