Greetings All;
The Canine2 Iron Dog Competition is back again. Hopefully all you old competitors can still complete the course. After a two year lay off we have constantly been questioned on when were we going to do it again. The competition will take place in October. tentatively the 23 and 24th October. Please mark your calendars for this fun, exciting and grueling event. All proceeds will be doted to the FOSCIK Orphaned Children's Shelter. I miss you all and can't wait to see you again. More information coming soon.
Sarge
so... I asked what it was like and got this response:
Hi Michelle,
Sarge's Iron Dog competition is more of a "walk in the park" for the dogs, but it kicks our human butts (and least us old, out of shape ones!)
It's held near Chicago at the State Forest Preserve. You wait your turn, as they send someone every 2 minutes or so. You have to run down a hill to cross a "stream", or raging river depending on much rain has fallen recently. We've been when it was ankle deep, as well as armpit deep on me, and I'm tall, so it was probably over Cheryl's head. Once you cross the stream, you have to climb this steep f***ing hill. When you are all wet and not the first one through the couse, it gets very slippery and slimy. Go down the other side and yes....you have to cross the stream two more times. This time there are no banks to speak of, so you claw at roots after you have lifted your dog on to dry land, to try and get your fat butt out. You finally get a breather as you jog down a paved path and then back into the woods. When you come out of the woods there is a shooting station, where you need to hold onto your dog and shoot two shots with a paintball gun at a target and hit it. Then on to the "carry". You have the choice of either carrying your dog a hellish long way or a 20# sack of potatoes. (One lady that would have gotten blown away in a strong wind carried her 150# great dane!) Then there is an a-frame that you both need to climb over, and an agility dog walk. Then comes the smelly tarp. They have it bungied down to the ground so tight, you have no choice but to crawl on your belly. Again, if you are not near the front of the pack, then it gets pretty smelly and slimey. On to a tire course, where you know, you have to pick your feel up and put them down in each tire. Done a few face plants here. Then you go back into the woods and come out in a clearing where you get your one and only sleeve bite on the course. Back on to the trail until you come up to 2 or three jumps. Jump your dog over these, slog through a swamp and then to the home stretch where your lungs are screaming, your calves are cramping and you have to get down one more time and crawl through a low-to-the-ground cage with your dog. You stagger up and throw yourself across the finish line. Oxygen tanks and water are handed to you as well as several pats on the backs and lots of cheers.
I believe it is around 2 miles total and is an awesome bonding experience with your dog. Maybe Carole Field can post some pictures of previous Iron Dog. I remeber one of Cheryl crawling through the last cage wearing her "chemo cap". Of course, we were all in tears that year when she finished the course.
I might have missed a station or two, but that is the best of my recollection and Paul and I have done it 3 or 4 times. We proudly have our "Turtle Awards" to show for it!!
So... who wants to go play?
Michelle, please make sure that Cheryl Carson doesn't see this. I don't want her getting any bright ideas.
... I am going to take Arko my Mali b/c of the carrying & bite work. But who knows I might get brave and take Conan too 
