Kelly O’Day
sports Editor
Irma’s Martha Schouweiler loved winning the John Beargrease 120-mile sled-dog race so much last year, she decided to do it again.
Schouweiler guided her eight-dog team to victory nearly an hour faster than runner-up Frank Moe, of Minnesota, in the 17-team field. She became the first woman and just the third racer overall to win back-to-back Beargrease mid-distance championships in the 28 year history of the race.
The event covers 120 grueling miles in Minnesota from Two Harbors to north of Grand Marais. She finished in trail time of 10 hours, nine minutes on Feb. 1.
Handling dogs at the checkpoints for Schouweiler’s Otter Run Kennel team were Chad Schouweiler and Chris Callahan.