Sunday, February 24, 2013

Sled dogs running (and probably faster than me)

Well, it's been a bit, no? I've been hugely busy with my book release.

Dolls Behaving Badly released Feb. 5 from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group, and I naively thought that that would be that, maybe a week of publicity stuff and my life would go back to normal.

Yeah, right. I had a week of readings/discussions/signings, followed by weeks (and more than a month to come) of guest blog posts, interviews and blog tours. I had no idea.

Anyway, if anyone wants to check out my humble little book, there's an excerpt on my Website and also on the Amazon purchase page. Enjoy.

Now, back to running.

We missed the Lost Dutchman Marathon, due to my book release schedule, and because of it we kinda lost our oomph. Then we both came down with colds/flu.

Yesterday, MM and I did pull our sick and coughy bodies out to watch the Rondy World Championship Sled Dog Races and oh, watching those dogs run made me want to run. Especially since they ran part of the Mayor's Marathon route. And they were tiring at almost the same spot where I began to tire.

I don't know how many of you have ever had the chance to watch sled dog races, but it's the most amazing thing. These dogs love to run. You can see it in their eyes, which are fierce and heated and determined. We stood in the woods, so close we could hear the dogs pant as they ran past, hear their feet hit the ground, hear their yikes and yelps. There was a wildness to them, and an abandoned joy. I truly think that those dogs would happily run forever if they had the chance (the same feeling I often have while running in the mountains, that I never want to stop, that I want to run to and through eternity).

Now tell me: Don't these dogs look the way you feel when you run?






















Have a great Sunday, everyone.

7 comments:

  1. I just went to email you and my email is missing a lot since I got my computer fixed so glad to see you posted. I have gotten your book (can't remember if I told you) and it is the next one to read in my pile! Thanks so much. My husband was intrigued by the whole blogger sent me a book she published to review and read thing. Maybe I can get him to read it too. My favorite children's book(chapter) is Kavik the Wolf Dog by Walt Morey. It's about a sled dog, a Lassie type story.

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    1. Oh, how cool that you have my book! Take your time in reading. You should come up and see the sled dog races or Iditarod some year. It is really like nothing else. I can't explain it enough to do it justice. I swear, tears swell up in my eyes when they dogs charge past. They look of happy, so wild and joyful and totally themselves. It is just the coolest thing.
      Cheers and happy running,

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  2. It all seems very exciting about your book! Looking forward to checking out the excerpt.
    What amazing pics of the dogs...wow!

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  3. I tell Matt that I was probably a sled dog in a previous life. I'm good at curling up and chilling at home on cold days, but you pull out my shoes and I go jump-up-and-down crazy. :) And my tongue occasionally hangs out.

    Up for a different marathon? May 5, Avenue of the Giants?

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    1. Oh, Karen, how you tempt me! I've eyed the Avenue of the Giants before. Will have to give it a long, serious look.

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  4. Just found your blog... I am enjoying it, but I have to admit that I assumed that you'd have to run in much colder weather than I do...

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    1. Thanks for following, Stroller Guy! Anchorage is more moderate than northern Alaska but still gets chilly. Ran in single digits for most of December and also an epic 14-miler in -7 degrees with a brisk wind. (Does that beat your temps, hee, hee.) Cheers and happy running.

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