Down to 9 dogs out of 13 going into Beargrease 2009. 3 of the best dogs on my team are out due to injuries in training. My friend Thad McCracken from Portland and his sister Stephanie from Minneapolis make up the checkpoint team. Other than not having my best dogs running in the team, we are more prepared than I have ever been and we have an exciting change in strategy. It looks like its going to be a cold one! Results: We followed our strategy and finished first! * Run fast up to Billy's - 20 minutes rest, changed booties and runner plastic, watered the dogs * Run up every hill on the way to highway 2, don't call up the dogs * Limit rest at highway 2 to under 2 1/2 hours. As soon as all the dogs had eaten and drank something, we booties and left. * Run up every hill to Finland, don't call the dogs up. We were the fastest team this leg with the second least rest. * Park over the snow bank in the back corner rather than next to the truck. Thad dug a trench and mad us a nice and quiet spot out of the wind. Rested over 6 hours. * Run up every hill to the finish. Still didn't call up the dogs. Fastest team last leg. * Finished with 8 dogs Thanks to Thad and Stephanie for their help in winning this race! They did an amazing job!