November 26, 2004
ONE THOUSAND MILE RACE, TWO DREAMS, THIRTY-TWO DOGS
Newberry, MI – Musher Ed Stielstra has been dreaming of a return to Alaska’s 1,100 mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race since he finished the grueling event last March. His dreams are now shared by rookie musher, Andrew Letzring, also a member of the Nature’s Kennel Sled Dog Racing team. Stielstra, along with his wife Tasha, operate a 70-dog racing and touring kennel in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Andrew has been working with the Stielstras for the past two years, and has been given the opportunity to run their young dogs in the 2005 Alaskan race. Twenty year old Letzring will be one of only four mushers under 21 years old in the field of nearly 90 Iditarod teams.
“Me and my dogs are both rookies and will be learning as we go. I’m not concerned about being one of the youngest mushers in the field because I have a good dog team and I’m up for the challenge,” says Letzring.
Ed and Andrew both train from the Stielstra’s home near Newberry in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The dogs are on a rigorous training schedule which 
includes both running and resting days.
“We never run the dogs more than three days in a row because as any professional athlete knows, rest days are just as important as workout days. We want the dogs to see running as fun and rewarding, not as a chore,” says Stiesltra’s wife Tasha who helps train the dogs as well. “We make sure the dogs are in the best possible shape they can be, and that includes everything from physical stamina to nutritional health to mental well-being. If the dogs aren’t happy and healthy they won’t perform to the best of their ability.”
According to Iditarod veteran Ed, “The Iditarod is an event that many people only dream about, but thanks to the support of my wife, our dogs, and our 2005 Iditarod business partner, Applied Management Support Services of Grand Ledge MI, I’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to do it twice. I also want Andrew to experience the same dream I did last year; to witness over eleven hundred miles of untouched wilderness with sixteen of your best friends.”
In addition to training for the Iditarod, the Stielstras are also making plans for additional races which will include the 240 mile UP 200 race in Marquette MI, and the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race near Newberry, MI. They are also kept busy scheduling winter tours for the upcoming season and gathering corporate business partners for their Iditarod teams. The combined expense for both Nature’s Kennel Teams will exceed $30,000.
For more information on the Stielstras and Nature’s Kennel Sled Dog Racing and Adventures, contact www.natureskennel.com, or call 906-748-0513.
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Prepared by Beverly Stroh