Hi! I am a 58 year old mother of one son and the wife to a very busy ENT. By education I am an Occupational Therapist. I worked in Spine Rehab and with Swallowing Disorders for 18 years until we moved to North Dakota. We live on a Hobby Farm with a frequently changing number of Alaskan Huskies. I started racing in 2002 after my son started getting busy with after school activities and could no longer train and race. I was immediately hooked and love being able to share my dogs with many school children every year. I truly am blessed to be able to enjoy nature this way. Our kennel is called Reach For The Sky because in life you need to always set and reach for your goals. My main lead dog is Coyote. I have 6 that run lead, she is just the best.
Kennel History
Our kennel began about 12 years ago when we moved to North Dakota. The year before we moved our son Michael watched the movie Iron Will and saw an article from the Grand Forks Herald. His next comment was, “Mom, when we move to North Dakota can we get sled dogs?” I guess you can say the rest is history.
We were fortunate to meet Vern Halter and Susan Whiton early in our mushing experience. They helped Mike with getting some great dogs and direction as well as a lasting friendship.
When Michael began intramural sports in middle school the dogs became my passion. I began training and quickly decided I liked mid distance better than sprint racing. Now I am working to experience the Last Great Race, Iditarod.
Photograph
The photo of my dogs was taken by Jim Watt KC0XW one of my HAM radio friends. It was taken on the Red River last year during the Red River Sled Dog Derby.

13 comments
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November 12, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Quyen
Hello Nancy,
Thanks for sharing these incredible pictures. Please remember to take care of yourself also. Let us know if you need anything. Best of luck with the race!
Regards,
Quyen & Scott
November 26, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Jody
Hi Nancy, Thank you for your quick response to my students this morning. I teach a combination classroom of third and fourth graders in Bertha, MN. We have been following your blog the last two weeks. My students love the photos and information about the dogs and your training. In September, my fourth graders read a story, Akiak, by Robert J. Blake. It is about a dog in the Iditarod. My friend, Sandy Swanson, from Grand Forks told me about your blog. If you don’t mind, they might write to you from time to time. They are very interested in learning more about your adventures!
December 30, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Ralph Hunt
Hello Nancy,
…enjoyed working you the other afternoon on 20-meters on the Ham Bands – Looking forward to working you again, especially in the new year -
And yes, a very Happy New Year 2009 to you and yours – sounds as though you have a full and wonderful life; there’s much to look forward to -
Let’s hope it will be a good year for all of us !
vy 73,
Ralph/AG6Quebec
December 30, 2008 at 9:15 pm
nancyyoshida
Ralph,
Thanks for your kind words. Thank you for your wishes. I agree I am very blessed and have a very full life. Hope to talk to you again.
73′s Nancy
January 29, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Rick
Hi Nancy, I have checked on occasion and the pictures and stories are great. It is good to see Mike is doing better and I see you have found a Chiroprator to help your aches and pains. Keep the dream going and good luck with the race. I know you will finish.
Dr Galstad
January 31, 2009 at 6:49 pm
nancyyoshida
Rick,
Thanks for your thoughts. All is going and I know I can finish. I continue to learn so that is good. I think Mike will make the team. I am taking him on a 25 today. Amazing to me how they heal as I thought we would have to put him down.
I hope you are all well. Tell Kathy and the girls Hi!
Nancy
February 7, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Dianne
Hi Nanc, Counting the days until we can all see you. Good luck at the Klondike. Be careful!!!!
February 12, 2009 at 4:26 pm
nancyyoshida
Thanks Diane,
I cam’t wait to see everyone. It has been a long winter.
Nancy
March 8, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Amanda
I am a 4th grader and we are doing a unit on the Iditarod. I have picked you for my musher to follow. I picked you becuse you have the same name as my mom, you are from ND like me and a girl like me! I am excited to follow you in the race and wish you good luck! I like the pictures you have taken of the Iditarod.
March 15, 2009 at 1:06 am
nancyyoshida
I hope you are not to disappointed I had to scratch. Some times things do not go as we plan. That is a good life lesson. We deal with it the way it happens not always the way we want. Thanks for picking me to follow.
Nancy
March 8, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Dee Renden
Nancy,
I am sooooooo proud of you… I admire you so much…we had numerous prayers for you in church today. Good luck and and I will keep you in my prayers……love Dee Renden
March 15, 2009 at 1:07 am
nancyyoshida
Thanks for the support and the prayers. I felt them when I really needed some strength.
I am fine and Nigel is back so all is good,
July 7, 2009 at 10:20 pm
nancyyoshida
I broke a runner on my sled about 8 miles out of the Finger Lake check point on my way to Rainy Pass. The whole story is in the blog March 14 and forward.
Thanks for your interest.
Nancy