Sled Dog Endurance

Any of you who study the science of exercise know that experts recommend you do different types of exercise or work out only every-other day to prevent muscle damage.  So, how do sled dogs compete in the 1,100 mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, which spreads over nine days?

 

Michael Davis of Oklahoma State University‘s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences has studied the sled dogs for the past 10 years, before, during, and after races both in the lab and in the field.   His findings may even have implications for humans.

 

It seems that when we exercise, both human and dog cells shed enzymes and proteins into the bloodstream, indicating that there has been damage to the muscle cells.  In humans, further exercise results in further cell damage and more protein shedding.  In sled dogs, however, the cells are re-programmed after the first day so that more exercise does not cause more cell damage. 

 

Although scientists aren’t sure how this happens, they are very interested in sled dog metabolism because of the potential benefits it may provide to humans.  The biggest value may come when they look at the diet of sled dogs which can include as much as 12,000 calories per day, of which 60 – 70% is fat.  This high calorie consumption is about equivalent to that of an Olympic athlete weighing 2 – 3 times as much as a 60 pound sled dog. 

 

If a human were to eat such a high fat diet, it is likely that type 2 diabetes wouldn’t be far behind.  However, dogs do not have any such problem.  The question becomes why, and how can this be applied to humans?

 

Food for thought (pun most definitely intended!)

 

Until next time,

Good day, and good dog!

 

 

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3 thoughts on “Sled Dog Endurance”

  1. Blackjack – Thanks for telling us about the food – I didn’t know that, and it’s interesting to know about the behind the scenes stuff.

  2. Thank you for keeping an update on your journey. I feel encouraged. I hope you continue to post such fabulous ideas.Sled dogs, known also as sleightman dogs, sledge dogs, or sled dogs are types of dogs that are used to pull a wheel-less vehicle on runners (a sled or sleigh) over snow or ice, by means of harnesses and lines.Sled dogs are expected to demonstrate two major qualities in their work (apart from basic physical capability to pull the sled). Endurance is needed to travel the distances demanded in dogsled travel, which may be anything from five to eighty miles (8 to 130 km) or more a day.Though high performance snacks are carried on the sled, it’s not possible to carry two week’s worth of food for 16 huskies. Mushers must prepare the food a couple of weeks ahead of time, in pre-measured bags, and send it out to the eighteen checkpoints set up along the Iditarod trail.

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