[what Tater Tot and I look like when we’re winning — photograph courtesy of JIMMY]
I love it when the dark horse wins. Actually, I love to be the dark horse. When I find myself in a dark horse position, here’s what I like to do:
1. Meet up with the folks I am competing with and be my regular curious, dorky, runty self. I am very physically unimpressive to look at so everyone pretends to not really notice me until I force them to talk to me by offering up chipper hellos to them and introducing myself. I’m an ice breaker. It’s practically my vocation in life. Then, more often than not, strangers want to impress and test the dark horse so they talk a lot about their sponsorships, make a big deal about their malamutes and generally look down in disbelief at the little brown bird dog by my side.
NOTE: You can make yourself an even DARKER dark horse if you are the only competitor running a single dog. No one can take a single dog team seriously. Come on now.
2. I tie on my racing bib. Wait in line for the staggered start. Put on my skis. Eventually step up to the line with humility and a general plan to be as excellent as I can be. I want to have fun but I also want to win. I want to win really badly. I want to be the best of the day. I want my dog to be celebrated.
3. When the official yells at me to start, I ski until I feel like my heart is going to fall out of my chest and my shoulders feel covered in flames. I step skate all the corners and do NOT slow down for them. I ski so fast I am on the brink of being out of control at times. I double pole relentlessly, stab the ground over and over, bend my knees, push off with my back, legs, core. Stab and push. Stab and push. A thousand times. I cheer on my dog at the top of my lungs — he likes my enthusiasm and digs in a little deeper when I call out. We are relentless, my dog and I.
4. When I catch a ski tip in a snow machine rut and suffer the worst arse-over-teakettle wipe out in the history of my skiing career and Tater proceeds to drag me at terminal velocity about 15 feet down the trail, face first, I get up, untangle the lines, check if I have a nosebleed and ski even harder until I reach the point of bodily fire again…
5. …then, I sustain that burning state of exertion, pass the skier who started before me, ski on, hard and fast, and four miles later I cross the finish line. And smile. Big.
6. Then I kiss my pup right between the eyes and tell him he is the fastest, strongest dog of the day. Then I hug my husband when he runs over with his cowbell and stopwatch to tell me that I crushed the competition and the nearest time to mine is nearly 2.5 minutes off.
7. Then I thank my competitors, one by one, for a lovely race and earnestly share with them how much fun it was, offer gratitude for their presence, meet all their dogs and kiss them all between the eyes and tell them they are wonderful and cherished and fast and strong dogs, too.
BRAVO– I love a strong, independent women and you are IT!!! How wonderful that you and Tator took top spot. You deserve It!!! Ski on girl!
We didn’t deserve it but we certainly earned it!
The competition was made up of great skiers and wonderful dogs. 🙂
All credit to Tater Tot who is utterly magnificent, courageous, lion hearted and quite strapping, to boot.
That is awesome! Great writing, pic & spirit!
Congratulations! Ski on, girl!
Thank you, Ketra. I will.
I held my breath while reading. I don’t know why, gasp, but your are a fantastic dark horse with a good dog!
The BEST dog.
The very best.
Oh gosh, friend! I just love this… everything about it.
🙂
XX
Oh my, as much as competition is not my thing, my heart always goes for dark horses and your story made this heart beat really fast and my eyes burn.
Have you read West with the Night, by Beryl Markahm? There is Jillian written all over it.
I love competition. I remembered how much I love it as soon as I started this race. Actually, I should clarify, I love striving for excellence and I love to watch others strive for excellence — it’s inspiring. I don’t like the idea that no one should lose, that everyone should win. What’s the point of doing anything if you aren’t going to give it your very best, give it your very all? Furthermore, since I am erupting with opinions here, I think it’s wonderful to award excellence. There you have it!
Competition is always wonderful but sometimes the dark side of human nature comes out and turns it into a nasty thing…but that’s not the nature of competition…that’s the nature of HUMANS.
I will look for West with the Night next time I am at the library!!! Thanks for the mention.
Of course! It’s just that my emotive side finds it hard to watch all these people (and animals) pushing their limits. It literally hurts me in the chest. I’m the type of girl to just run wildly without stopping when pushed by the wind, or joy, or too much energy – and I know you are too :o) – wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all do that instead of waiting for races, either as runners or watchers? Anyway, I admire you very much, and not just for this.
I totally get what you are saying! And I agree, I wish we would all run wild for no good reason at all, for the plain and simple excellent joy of it. And I hope you didn’t feel like I was RANTING at you with my response! 🙂 I was ranting, but not AT you, I was just ranting and raving, in general. I do it all the time on all matter of subject. Just ask Robert.
Don’t worry! Your response simply made me realize my original comment was not explicit enough. If everybody was envisioning and living competitions the way you do, the world would be a better place (let’s put some reggae in this winter morning ;o) and this was splendidly obvious from your story.
:o)
We already have the reggae on here!!!
Sway to the rhythm, sister!
X
Magnificent!! You are a friggin stallion, you beauty!! And Tater too. How exciting!
HA HA!!!
x
YEEHAW! I love your lion hearts.
Hope your teakettle is okay.
My teakettle is a survivor.
This makes me so happy I could cry a bit… and maybe I did. You and Tater are such a pure team. Love love love! xoxox
Tate and I are a good match. 🙂
LIKE A BOSS!
So awesome. XO!
Oh, Lulu. You always make me laugh. X
Fastest…..even with time allotted for the epic wipe-out. Good Job. Hurrah, Hurrah!
…I should add to that a very poor start (skied over my lines when Tater TURNED AROUND and ran backwards at the start…)…and then a very poor finish (we had ten friends come out to watch the races and Tater saw them at the finish line and ran towards them instead of the finish). We certainly could have gone a little faster!
And that is precisely why I love your “regular curious, dorky, runty self” so much! Congratulations, I was cheering you on from afar (very afar) since I read about the race!
HA!
I really am those things.
Thanks for the cheering!
X
~what an exhilarating moment in time for you…my heart began pounding a wee bit faster and i found myself leaning in towards the computer as i read through your post! captivating to hear and see your experience…congrats to you and your wonderful running mate…may you continue to strive for many more amazing triumphs like so…much love light and blessings~
Thanks, darlin’!
I held my breath whilst reading this. What a wonderful story! Congratulations on your and Tater’s win. The other racers only underestimated your little bird dog because they have probably never seen one work, because once you have you don’t forget it.
I agree. They underestimated Tater Tot! 🙂
yes! i was wishing this for you. 🙂
Hey, girl! Thanks for wishing!
Yee-hee!! I’m so glad you had a great time and kicked butt in the process. Well done friend!
It was a blast.
That’s for certain!
YES! God! I nearly leapt out of my chair, vaulted my computer and broke through the office window reading this. I NEED TO RUN/SKI/CLIMB SOMETHING!
It is thrilling to win, it is so much more thrilling to share that sweaty language with your pup, to work hard for each other, wipe outs and all. Félicitations aux les belles gagnants!
You need Tinker Bell to grow faster.
I am feeding her all of the eggs.
(And the beastly hulk of a husky I adopted last year learned to heel on a leash far too well- he won’t pull! I’m going to borrow a friends pulling babe and hook them up together- hopefully that will learn him!)
…that’s the problem. Teach them not to pull and they won’t pull. Teach them to pull and it’s all they’ll want to do. You have to be ok with being dragged about town if you want a good skijoring dog:)
ALL THE EGGS!!!!
HA!
fly, baby, fly!!!! when you’re giving it all you’ve got, you’re going for the win!
True enough!
Woohoo!!
I wish I could have been there to cheer you and Tater on too!
You’re a star Jillian Lukiwski 🙂
xx
Oh gosh.
It wasn’t the Olympics… 🙂
HA HA!
Thank you, Joanne.
WELL DONE!!! And I thought I was the one with the “sled dogs”! 😉
x
I wish we lived closer to each other, I would force you to ski those beauties of yours!!! Or I’d ask you to let me run them as a team. They would have such a blast.
This faithful reader extends the warmest congrats to you both. (but apparently I’m not a very careful reader because I thought Tater Tot was the dachshund. Talk about a dark horse! Thank goodness for photos…)
GUFFAWWWWWW!!!
An honest mistake.
The weenie dog is Penelope. 🙂 She’s small and mighty but not quite THAT mighty…
Woohoo! Congrats to you and the magnificent Tater Tot! Quite the team, you two!
He’s the brawn behind the team!
…sometimes I am the brain.
Thank you!
Omg I’m laughing and crying and huffing and puffing, GO TATER! and jumping up and down and my arse hurts after reading that. What a fun story. Very cool, you competitive little first place winner, you!!
And now, it is time to celebrate. 🙂
HA HA HA!!!
Good.
I’m celebrating with another race, right quick like…more details on that soon.
That’s the LAST time they won’t take you seriously! Woohoo! You wild thing, you!
HA!
I know. You only get the element of surprise ONCE when you are the dark horse. 🙂
I can’t help but to think of your beautiful winged Plum in heaven who made the way for Tater. I’m always amazed that out of heartache the Phoenix/Tater/new joy in life is born. She is barking you guys on! As am I! I’ve been excitedly waiting to hear the outcome!! WellDone!!!!
OH! Plumbelina. We actually talked about her this weekend…how she would have loved to pull… 🙂
I shall plant that kiss for you once Rob and the dogs are home from their hunting trip tonight.
Oh. And a kiss between the eyes 😉
How exhilarating! Congratulations to you both!
Thanks, Melissa!
I’m a fan of the tactics as an old racer myself!! Well done all around!! And, oh, I was on the edge of my seat hoping you were okay and would win the day!! Muscle man, Tater Tot!! (This is my favorite name ever!!)
GUFFAW!
Then you know exactly what I am talking about! 🙂
Muscle man! Too true, too true.
i love the dorky runty twig-of-a-girl that you are….you are 100% the most alive woman i know….
xx
What an honor…to be the most alive one you know. XX
I love this tail, I mean TALE, sooooooooo much!
HEE HEE!!!
yeahhh tater tot!!! all that wild running you do together in the woods has paid off- that was the “wildcard”, that none of the competitors knew how brave and free-wheeling you and tater tot can be.
Tater and I DO run wild, all the pups here do, every day of the week. 🙂 But seriously, Tater is just so strong as a puller…we wouldn’t have won with a different dog. That’s just the fact of the matter.
x
Woww well done!
Reading your text reminded me how anxious I am during my mountaineering ski races 😛
It is so nice to take part to a race, knowing better your body , your limits and be impressed by your inner strength!
Congrats super girl!!
Another racer! ‘Atta girl!
I agree with you. I like competition not because I like to win or lose, but because I like to know what I am capable of…what Tater Tot is capable of. That’s the true joy of it, for me.
Competition is very stimulating. Winning is great. Feels good.
Congratulations to you and your dog!
Fabulous!
It is stimulating! Stimulating to watch and stimulating to be a part of. I totally agree.
Thanks for being here, Nathalie!
Oh! How lovely – go you and the most marvellous tater!!Makes me warm and fuzzy how man (woman!) and dog can work so harmoniously. Don’t think my wee terriers would be much use at this though! Well done lady!!!
So true. Whenever we work with our dogs, whether it is hunting or skiing, I am very aware of the awesome partnership between human and animal. It happens with horses too! Just such a cool, meant-to-be bond between species.
Your terriers would love to run along side and yip for joy!
That, they would love to do!
Not surpriseed in the least Jillian, congrats! What a great doggie you have, lucky guy! 🙂
🙂
Thanks, darlin’!
What a TEAM!!!! You both are incredible! I love your description of the race – I was right there with you! I knew you two were gonna win! You’re such an inspiration, dear Jillian, on so many levels – again, thanks for sharing these wonderful moments with us! XO
I aim to bring joy! So glad you liked the story!
Thank you for being here, Lynn. XX
I love it. Very few things better than a dark horse win, makes one stop and take a little stock I think, sometimes its more about heart and a fire than the best equipment and financial backing. Good for your and Tater Tot.
Too true!!!
I think it’s ALWAYS about heart and fire.
Woo Wee…. Congrats to you and Tater. Well Done… xxx
Thanks, little lady!
Thanks and Congrats on your win–I loved reading this!
Thanks for loving the read!
Badass. Love this post, congrats lady
Thanks, Steph.
OMG!! You shall hence forth be know as the sled dog badass of Pocatello 😉 hehehe. Well done you! Especially after taking that tumble, way to get back up and go. I am going to share your story with my 3rd grader who is learning about perseverance in school. Thank you for sharing and well done indeed!! xoxo
GUFFAW!!! 🙂
Perseverance. An excellent lesson, indeed.
I LOVE this post! I may not be a dark horse (maybe one day), but I certainly know about being the oddball…congratulations 🙂
Thanks, darlin’!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your post made me laugh and made me cry. I think I’m in love with Tater. Oh, the joy – the pure, pure joy – for both of you!
Everyone is in love with Tater.
He’s just that kind of guy.
I got goosebumps and tears, what a story! Congratulations you crazy, very impressive looking gorgeous dark horse with the best dog ever!
XX
You are all kinds of awesome! Very few would discount Tater (or you) at the start line here in Fairbanks, folks skijor will all kinds of dogs and many of the sporting breeds are the fastest.
The sporting breeds ARE among the fastest. They’re starting to breed more bird dog genetics into sled dog blood lines for the speed and endurance.
To be frank though, Tater Tot (and Farley) has incredible, WAY above average stamina, especially this time of year after being hunted for a few months. We’ll go out anywhere from 3 to 7 days in a row, hunting for 8 hours a day, and the dogs will trot or lope that entire time. They’re bound to be fit as fiddles.
You inspire me! I have to go do something, I love you!
Get out there, Sandie!
Have fun!
Thanks to you all, again, for these wonderful comments. Love having you here and love to share the details of my life with you.
You are cherished.
X
Hot damn! Let reiterate: THE STUFF YOU DO IS AMAZING!!!
Gah!! Jillian, I read this post a few days too late and fell in love with those rings..I’ve been waiting for you to make something like this again and when I went to the shop, they were all gone 🙁
Oops- I commented on the wrong post..but you know what I mean!
Fret not.
There will always be more work from me.
I have to go easy with how I pace myself in the studio, or I’ll be ruined.
Hang tight!
XX
LOVE this!!! well done…..
I stumbled across your blog today, and it is just stunning.
And inspirational.
Hooray for you and your dog. What a great day!
My friend has border collies, and ran sleds with them to keep them fit this winter.
She went to one competition and loved it. She had the only border collie team there.
I’m pretty sure my greyhound would NOT enjoy winter sports.
Take care,
Kelli