Iditarod

Racing dogs at Iditarod, Alaska 2014

Iditarod - The last great race(r) 2014: the greatest challenge up to the finish: » iditarod.com

» O2k-Workshop IOC84

At Martin Buser's 'Happy Trails Kennel' (Big Lake, near Anchorage, Alaska) Prof. Michael Davis (Comparative Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Oklahoma State University, USA) conducts a long-term collaboration with Martin's team to study and train the Alaskan dogs in preparation of long-distance races, the most challenging of which is the 1,100 mile Iditarod race. Martin Buser is 4 times champion of the Iditarod, with a scientifically oriented interest in the study of the genetics and physiology of the dogs that goes far beyond the race.

The line of mixed-breed Alaskan huskies of Martin incorporates sprint-dog lines and is selected and trained as much for long-distance endurance as for speed - and happiness. "Happy dogs perform better and make racing more fun" (Martin Buser).

» buserdog.com

In January and March 2014, Mike Davis and Katherine Williamson teamed up with Erich Gnaiger and Verena Laner (Medical University of Innsbruck and OROBOROS INSTRUMENTS), Robert Boushel (Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, SE), and Benjamin F. Miller and Karyn Hamilton (Colorado State University, US) to focus on mitochondrial respiratory function in the skeletal muscle of the dogs. With a Power-O2k approach using six OROBOROS O2k, these mitochondrial studies are conducted at the beginning of the intensive training period and after the Iditarod race, considered as the final stage of the most intensive endurance training.

» Mitochondrial pathways and respiratory control. An introduction to OXPHOS analysis.

The science team

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  Left to right, back: Karyn Hamilton, Benjamin F. Miller, Robert Boushel, Katherine Chapoton, Michael Davis, Katherine Williamson, Verena Laner; front: Shannon Massie, Martin Buser, Erich Gnaiger.

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  Left to right: Shannon Massie, Verena Laner, Karyn Hamilton, Benjamin F. Miller, Katherine Williamson, Michael Davis, Katherine Chapoton, Martin Buser, Erich Gnaiger, Robert Boushel.

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  The Mito-Science-Team (left to right: Rob Boushel, Erich Gnaiger, Karyn Hamilton, Verena Laner and Benjamin F. Miller) working in the lab. (C) by Shannon Massie.

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  Getting ready for an exciting sled-ride through the Alaskan nature - Rob Boushel and Rohn Buser.

The fast endurance heroes

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The mitochondrial lab at Happy Trails Kennel

Dog skeletal muscle mitochondria: the first detailed study with SUIT protocols.

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  Katherine Williamson

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  Erich Gnaiger

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  Verena Laner and dog 'Lucky'

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  Verena Laner, Robert Boushel

Getting connected

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A visitor at Happy Trails Kennel

The mito team

• O2k-Network Lab: US OK Stillwater Davis MS
• O2k-Network Lab: SE Stockholm Boushel RC
• O2k-Network Lab: AT Innsbruck Gnaiger E
• Gnaiger Erich
• Laner Verena

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  Setting up the mito lab with Martin Buser

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  Katherine Chapoton, Katherine Williamson and Mike Davis discuss the races.

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  Mike Davis and Erich Gnaiger discuss the SUIT protocols.

Alaska Expedition post-study (March 2014)

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Fotos by Gnaiger Erich and Laner Verena

Further links of interest

• Youtube
• k300: Congratulations to Rohn Buser for winning this race. "Rohn won it in 38 h and change, but not without a MAJOR challenge from Jeff King who made a run at Rohn in the last 5-10 miles, but couldn't overtake him. 300 miles (500 km) in 38 h. When you subtract the 10 h of mandatory rest, that means Rohn's dogs AVERAGED nearly 18 kph for over a day. These are the dogs we will investigate in March. That isn't even the race record. Ironically, the race record of 37 h 4 min is held by Martin Buser" (Michael S. Davis, 2014-01-20).