Dog Dash for DeeDee a howling success

MAT-SU -- There were tears welling in some eyes, but the optimism that brightened cloudy skies at Saturday's dog dash for local hero DeeDee Jonrowe was better than sunshine and as warm as the joy that shone from the indomitable Jonrowe herself.

"We consider the day a wonderful success," race director Mike Janecek said Sunday. "The final tally is much better than we had hoped. After we pay the bills, we will have made between $25,000 and $27,000 to help DeeDee win her fight."

DeeDee Jonrowe's running buddies on the Valley Women's Running Team came up with the idea several months ago to hold a benefit track event to raise money to help Jonrowe in her continuing fight against breast cancer, according to fellow team member Trula Acena of Wasilla. Given Jonrowe's status as a famous musher as well as a dedicated runner, the idea of the Dog Dash for DeeDee just seemed to be a natural.

Janecek says it isn't about the money, however.

"It was absolutely wonderful to see all these people from our communities and across the state be so willing to help out," he said.

"We all got together out there at Crevasse Moraine and gave DeeDee the best medicine anyone could get -- the love and support of all her friends and fans."

At least 550 athletes, many with their canine partners, and hundreds of spectators came out to support Jonrowe, filling the hollow at the Crevasse Moraine trailhead near Palmer as registration-desk volunteers signed up the last-minute crush of runners and their dogs for the races.

Registrants received plastic bags that contained not only their own souvenir bib numbers and other information, but hot-pink bandanas and dog bones for their dogs. Participants were still in line to register only moments before the noon start of the 5 kilometer run, so race coordinator Mike Janecek announced that they could run first and register later.

According to Janecek, people of all ages and running ability participated in the events, from babies in strollers and backpacks to 75-year-old Jean Paul. Runners came from Anchorage, from all over the Valley, and spectators came from as far away as Michigan.

Racers signed up for one of four events: a 5K run, a 5K run with dogs, a 5K walk, and a 1K "meet the mushers" event during which racers could get the autographs of well-known mushers stationed along the course. Jonrowe herself finished the 5K walk on trails paved with the fallen golden leaves of birch trees.

Wearing a red Valley Women's Running Team jacket, her blonde hair as bright as the birch leaves, Jonrowe was radiant as she smilingly signed autograph after autograph on pink dog bandanas, runners' bibs, and even on the clothing people were wearing. Her fans flocked about her where she sat in a graceful chair handcrafted of slender bent willow withes, one of the many contributed items available for bidding at the silent auction held in conjunction with the races.

One old friend who didn't need an autograph was 14-year-old Dancer, one of Jonrowe's retired sled dogs. Dancer is now owned by Jonrowe's friend Nancy Moore, who had spiffed up the old Iditarod racer for his appearance Saturday.

"One of Santa's reindeer," Jonrowe explained the dog's name as she hugged him close, and then turned to Moore. "I think he remembers me."

Whole families came out to participate in the races, many of them serious competitive runners.

Merry Doner of Palmer explained as she registered that Saturday was her birthday. She and her family had chosen to celebrate the big day by running as a family in the benefit for Jonrowe.

And run they did. Peter Doner, who according to his mom ranked 10th in the state for Colony High at the recent cross-country state championships at Palmer High School, finished in second place at Saturday's 5K. Husband Mark, who serves as the cross-country running coach at Colony, placed third right behind his swifter son. Eleven-year-old Heidi Doner finished the women's portion of the 5K race in sixth place, while 13-year-old sister Johanna finished eighth.

Another running family who aced the races for Jonrowe were Tracy and Jerry Houser of Palmer and their 8-year-old sled dog mix, Joe. Tracy handily won the women's portion of the 5K, while husband Jerry and the sleek black-and-tan Joe took the 5K dog event.

The speedy Luch sisters, Delia, 11, Marcelyn, 10, and Letitia,11, (Delia and Letitia are twins) finished the women's portion of the 5K race together in second, third and fourth places. Brother Brent, 12, placed ninth in the overall 5K race.

Olympic skier Nina Kemppel of Anchorage won the women's portion of the 5K run with dogs, racing with Pula, a sled dog bred by Jonrowe's kennel, while her father, Roger Kemppel, 60, who finished the 5K without dogs a respectable twelfth.

Even dog families were represented among the ranks of DeeDee supporters at the dog dash.

Bernese mountain dog breeder Tracy Hopper of Wasilla brought four of her huge brown and white charges to the event. Kodo, almost two and co-owned with Alma Blum of Palmer, was accompanied by his sister, aunt and grandmother, all belonging to Hopper. It seemed somehow appropriate to the day that Kodo's name in Japanese translates as "heartbeat," for Jonrowe surely was the heartbeat of the event.

"We're all here to support DeeDee," explained Hopper. "She is such an inspiration to us all, and we want to show our love for her. We know that she will get through this and her life will be even more of a testimony for God's healing."

The skies were threatening, but the weather held for the all the races and most of the festivities until almost 2 p.m. when the first drops of rain mixed with sleet finally began to splatter the crowd. However nothing could dampen the event's overwhelming atmosphere of fun and hopefulness.

According to team member Trula Acena, Jonrowe has been a member of the Valley Women's Running Team since the group of Valley women runners began working out together about five years ago.

Coached by Janecek and Kristin Wolf, the group consists of approximately 60 women. According to Acena, from 20 to 30 members attend the twice-weekly runs on local tracks and trails from April through August every year.

"We are open to women of all ages and running ability who want to improve their level of fitness," Acena said. "This is the first event of this kind that we have held, but we hope to have others."

Interviewed before the races, Acena was delighted with the turnout.

"There's another women's running team in the Kenai who couldn't be here today, so they are holding a benefit race of their own," she added.

Holding a track event of this magnitude is a huge logistical challenge, according to Janecek.

"It took us three days to set up for the races," he said. "We repaired and dragged the trail and everyone had fun coming up with the Burma Shave poop signs," he added, referring to the series of comic signs strategically placed at the trailhead and throughout the course to remind dog owners to clean up after their pets.

"We had one set of Burma Shave-type signs at the top of a hard hill on the 5k, figuring it would give the runners a chuckle after they made the climb."

According to Janecek, it took race volunteers only two hours to clean up the park after the event.

"Everyone cooperated, even the weather, and we got it done so that you couldn't even tell we had been there," he added. "We had a great venue and the perfect time of year to do this. I think we started several people on love affairs with Crevasse Moraine. Nina Kemppel had never been there before and she was truly delighted to discover the trails and the course. She said she would definitely be back."

In addition to his concern over Jonrowe's struggle with breast cancer, Saturday's event held a special significance to Janecek, who lost his sister, Irene Ackerman of Palmer, to the disease four years ago.

"I'm glad I was able to do this for her, as well," he said.