Feb 2010 - Update from Wattie
Things are great here. I'm just training hard on some very hard and fast trails it really is hard work for me but it's very good training. After a 24hr delay in Paris I finally made it and was straight on the runners the next day with a 60 mile run up in the carabou hills, which was just amazing but very taxing for me having just arrived. We shut the dogs down the next day as we are only running every other day. I had the chance to do the T200 again but we decided that due to very icy trails there was no point in taking any chances with hurting any dogs or me for that matter. We are planning a lot of long runs to get with the dogs over night on the trail but the only good trails are up in the hills at the moment so we have to travel a bit. Started getting the drop bags together which starts to bring it all home to me that I'm actualy doing the Iditarod for real so its all go with packing dog food and cutting fish and bagging underwear and hats and gloves and just about everything apart from the kitchen sink! So not much excitment here at all but will keep you posted if I can with any interesting news that comes along, although I can't reveal all my training tips just in case Lance Mackay visits this site!!!!! Cheers for now. Wattie. Fri 8th January 2010 - Wattie leaves Stonehaven and heads for Dean Osmar's kennels at Clam Gulch on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.
3rd December 209 - Wattie attends rookie meeting in Alaska for a briefing
December 2009 - The first bid is received from an anonymous supporter who pledges $500 to ride out of Anchorage on Wattie's sled on 6th March - if you are interested in placing a bid then please visit the Iditarod official website - http://www.iditarod.com/auctions/
Fundraising events happening in October include a bag packing event at ASDA stores, Bridge of Dee and a carvery evening at The Royal Hotel, Stonehaven.
On Friday 4th December our good friend Bernie will be hosting an Iditarod evening at Bernie's Bungalow in Anchorage. There will be a Q&A session with Dean Osmar,1984 Iditarod champ, a raffle and a small auction. Pipes, drums and dogs will also be present for a truly action packed evening. If you are in Anchorage on the 4th come along and join us!
Keith show sun 9th mon 10th Aug
Turriff show sun 2nd mon 3rd Aug
Stonehaven highland games sun 19th July
Drumtochty highland games sat 27th June
Aberdeen highland games sun 21st June
Oldmeldrum highland games sat 20th June
Angus show Brechin sat 13th June
1st April - Wattie will compete in the Taiga 300, a gruelling 300 mile race with a challenging route. Wattie needs
to complete this race in order to qualify for next year 'big one' - The Iditarod 2010!
Route: The route for the Taiga is Wolverene Lodge ---loop 60 miles back to Wolverene. This is hilly...to Maclaren Lodge from Wolverene Lodge --down Lake Louise, lake Susitna, Lake Tyone--25 miles, then down the Tyone R. for 30 miles to the Susitna R. (mile 55) up the Susitna for 13 miles, then turn up the Maclaren for 42; 110 miles. 8-hour lay-over; then a 30 mile loop up the Maclaren River --back to Maclaren Lodge for a 4-hour layover. Return to Wolverene lodge. A total of 310 miles. 25th March - Wattie returns to Alaska to compete in his final qualifying race 'The Taiga 300'. Wattie will be
training with former Iditarod champion Dean Osmar and will need to put in some miles and re-acclimatise to the cold weather in time for the
race itself which starts on 1st April.
Saturday 24th January
Wattie competes in the Tustumena 200 Dog Sled Race - The Tustumena is a 200 mile race held annually in Alaska starting from Tustumena Lodge through Four Corners checkpoint, Caribou Lake checkpoint, Lost Creek Lodge checkpoint, Clamshell Lodge checkpoint and finally returning to Tustumena Lodge Saturday 17th January
Wattie competes in the Klondike 300 Dog Sled Race - The Klondike is a 300 mile race held annually in Alaska on the third week-end of January and covers a course from the start at Tug Bar on Knik-Goose Bay Road, through Deshka, with food drops, dog drops, and six hour layovers at Yentna Station,and Angel haven lodge, then back to Yentna Station for dog and food drops and six hour layover, then back through Deshka to the starting point and finish at the Tug Bar. Saturday 10th January
Wattie leaves Anchorage for Glam Gulch to begin training his dog team for the forthcoming qualifying races Friday 9th January
This is the BIG ONE - our US launch at Bernie's Bungalow in Anchorage - Here is an extract from promotional material prepared for our US launch. If you're in Anchorage on that date then BE THERE! What do Kilts and Dog Sleds, Bagpipes and Snowdrifts, Haggis and Siberian Huskies have to do with one another? NOTHING! Nothing that is until Wattie McDonald comes to town! Scottish musher Wattie McDonald will be in Anchorage at Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge to promote his challenge to qualify for and compete in the world’s most quelling and testing dog sled races, THE IDITAROD. January 9th from 5pm till closing Wattie McDonald, Scotland’s first Iditarod hopeful, will be on hand (and in kilt) to meet you, discuss his quest and sign autographs. The Anchorage Scott ish Pipe Band will be making an appearance, Anchorage’s own Highlanders will be showing their stuff and as with any great Scottish gathering general mayhem will ensue. So grab your kilt and come on down to Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge to show your support for Wattie’s Great Race. More information at www.berniesbungalowlounge.com Tuesday 23rd December
A tanning workshop kindly provided by Kerry and Nicola of 'Love me Tanning' will take place on 23rd December at Criggie Smithy. You can contact Love me Tanning on 078807 38058 or 01569 764494 
 A huge thank you to Vinylcut, a signs, graphics and engraving company just a few miles from Stonehaven, Aberdeen for sign writing my dog van so nicely. A huge thank you to Susan Smith who raised £306 by taking part in the Boxing Day 'Nippy Dip' at Aberdeen Beach - well done!Wattie's Aberdeen to Nome mail offer - A unique opportunity to purchase a special cachet (stamped and signed envelope, letter and map) that will be carried by Wattie from Aberdeen to Anchorage and along every Iditarod mile to Nome. There are limited numbers available and can now be purchased on this website. Please note they won't be available until after the race ends in 2010
Wattie's training hits the water at K9 Health Centre Aberdeen - www.k9hydrocentre.com
Although Wattie won't be running his own dogs in the Iditarod, he relies on them to stay in tip top condition whilst he trains for the race in his home town of Stonehaven Now, thanks to K9 Health and Hydrotherapy Centre in Aberdeen, Wattie's own Siberian Huskies are staying fit and healthy by using their great facilities as part of their training programme. Wattie is extremely grateful to everyone at K9 for their support. "I am overwhelmed by K9's generosity and not a little jealous that my dogs now have a heated indoor canine pool at their disposal. It's just like a health spa for dogs and they just love being there" Watie's fundraising team raised an amazing 1,800 at ASDA in Porthleven. Thanks to all at the store for their help and support
Wattie and his fundraising team have been busy raising money during the summer period and look set to be kept busy during Autumn and Winter. Attending Angus Show, the Feein Market in Stonhaven, Aberdeen Highland Games and the Oldmeldrum Games as well as many other local venues, they have raised vital funds to help fund the race and raise money for Wattie's nominated charities. Wattie would like to thank local champion boxer Lee Mcallister for is support and or helping to publicise Wattie's Great Race. Please
visit our image gallery to enjoy recent fundraising pictures
Wattie's Great Race coat, hat, blanket, sled bag patches now available - 3 inches x 6 inches just £11 or $16
Pigeon Media's trailer of Watties Great Race documentary now released for viewing - Pigeon Media, a film production company based in Aberdeen, Scotland has been following Wattie's gruelling challenge as he prepares for the Iditarod 2010. With footage covering many of Wattie's highs and lows as he begins training, his travels to Alaska to compete in the qualifying races and now his preparation for the great race itself, this trailer gives viewers an insight into Wattie the man and Wattie the potential champion. Click here to view the trailer
The K9 Health Centre in Aberdeen are providing $2000 funding for one of my race sleds and are also providing their facilities for training and grooming our own dogs.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE THREE LUMS PUBLIC HOUSE, SHELLDOCKSLLEY, ABERDEEN - A horsey fund raising night at Wattie's sisters local pub raised a massive £1385. Thanks !
SOMERFIELD STONEHAVEN SUPPORTS WATTIE'S GREAT RACE - A bag packing day at Wattie's local super market in stonehaven raised £941. A huge thanks to all the shoppers who made a donation and to the shop staff for their help and support.
Wattie Qualifies for The Iditarod 2010 - It's official - The man has only gone and done it!!!!!!
After setting off on 1st April Wattie successfully completed the Taiga 300 at 06.41 on 4th April in 9th Place. A fantastic effort from the plucky Scot with a larger than life personality. Faced with many challenges along the route Wattie had nothing but praise for the dogs in his team. " I'm always amazed at how well Dean's dogs adapt to having a different musher on board and although it's been a few weeks since my last trip to Alaska, as soon as I returned we immediately became a team again and got down to some serious training which paid off during the race. I couldn't have finished in one piece without them. My thanks to Dean and his team for their suport, my sponsors for getting me this far and my family, especially my wife Wendy for her patience and perserverance. Iditarod 2010 here I come!!" Wattie returns to Alaska to resume his training
 Fresh Catch of Peterhead sponsor Wattie's Great Race. Fantastic News - Fresh Catch of Peterhead have made an extraordinary contribution of
$5,000 towards Wattie's Great Race. A special thank you to Chris Anderson who made this possible. We won't lt you down! Wattie is still seeking
corporate sponsorship and if your company would like to support his efforts, raise funds for charity and ensure that your company  logo is
prominently displayed on Wattie's gear for the throughout the whole 1,079 miles of next years Iditarod then be sure and get in touch.  As you see from the attached photo
Ethan Aaron Craig was born on Friday 9th Jan at 10.10pmThe winners of the sweeper which we did to raise funds for Wattie MacDonald to race across Alaska with a dog sled team were (1) Mirjam Meek and (2) Annie White, Drumlithie. £107 was raised by the sweeper. The best of luck to Wattie who is in Alaska at the moment doing the heat races. A very very big thank you to all who contributed to this and well done to Mirjam and Annie. Thanks & Regards Susan Tuesday 3rd February
Wattie, wearing bib no 8, successfully completed the Tustumena 200 in the early hours of Monday morning gaining him a respectable 12th place in a field of 16 finishers. With a strong team of dogs on loan from former Iditarod winner Dean Osmar, Wattie paid tribute to the strength and courage of his team in particular lead dogs Katmi, Hawk, Loon and Kusko. Wattie will now be returning to Alaska on 25th March to compete in the Taigga 300, a 300 mile cross-country race in the Upper Susitna Basin, Alaska, on 1st April. Completion of this second race will guarantee his entry to the Iditarod 2010. Speaking briefly to Wattie as he completed the race he described the challenge as “a 200 mile roller coaster” and admitted that “it was a relief to finally see the finish line” Sunday 1st February
 Wearing bib no 8, and in 16th position, Wattie has
checked into Oil Well Road checkpoint with 11 dogs. Saturday 31st January
At last! Dogs have been vet checked and I'm about to start the Tustamena 200. You can follow my progress at www.tustumena200.com Friday 23rd January
Took a bit of a tumble and have injured my ribs but the show must go on and I'm mushing with everything strapped up and my fingers crossed that I don't do any more damage to myself before the first race. Thursday 15th January
Well nothing is going to plan at the moment. Alaska is experiencing a heatwave (still very cold by UK standards) and this means that both qualifying races have been postponed. I can only say 'watch this space' to let you know how things are going. Training is going well and it's good to know that I can still do the business as well on snow with an unfamiliar dog team as I can on dry land with my own dogs on the lines. Wattie and two members of his Iditarod team leave Aberdeen for Alaska's frozen wilderness.
 Wattie, his wife Wendy and their friend Jackie
left Aberdeen at 23.30hrs, arriving in Anchorage, Alaska at 06.30 (still the 8th January due to the time difference). They were be met by
local celebrity ‘Bernie’ of the world famous ‘Bernie’s Bungalow’, who is hosting the US launch of ‘Watties Great Race’ on Friday 9th January.Following the launch, Wattie will collect his hire truck and drive up to Glam Gulch where he will begin his training using a team of dogs and equipment belonging to former Iditarod winner Mr Dean Osmar. He will train his team in the Caribou Hills for a further week before competing in the Klondike 300 dog sled race which begins on 17th January. On completion of the Klondike 300, he will return to the Caribou Hills for a further weeks training before competing in the Tustumena 200 dog sled race which starts on 24th January. Once both races (a total of 500 miles of mushing) have been successfully completed, Wattie can be accepted as an entrant in the 2010 Iditarod Dog Sled Race and his own personal race to raise funds will begin in earnest.  Wattie says “I realise that the next
few weeks are going to be both busy and personally very challenging for me. I will need to re-adjust to a considerable time difference, cope
with a huge temperature differential, gain the trust of an unfamiliar team of dogs and compete in two gruelling races through wild and remote
territory. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by what lies ahead but mostly I just can’t wait. I love working with dogs, I love Alaska and I really
want to use this passion to raise money for charity. North Americans are a hardy bunch, but so are the Scots so I say move aside and make
way for Wattie!”
Images © Gary @ Pigeon Media Thank you to Brickfield Motors, Stonehaven who kindly transported Wattie and two members of the team to the airport
for their recent trip to Alaska, in style
A huge thank you to Pentagon Freight svs Aberdeen
who have donated £500.
   The
male waxing event kindly sponsored by 'Love me tanning' took place on Tues 23rd December. We thought you would like to see three brave men
who took part - Ryan Foster, Kev Thain and Mark Brechesner. Thanks to everyone who took part and raised money for Wattie's Great Race A 'Meet the Musher' fundraising day held at Dobbie's in Aberdeen was a great success and Wattie would like to
thank the team at Dobbie's for providing him with space at such a busy time of year
Thank you to Trojan Crates who have donated £150
Monday 10th November
 The official launch of Wattie's Great Race held on Monday
10th November at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre was a great success. Using the artificial ski slopes as a backdrop to the proceedings gave the
event a snowy atmosphere although the weather was considerably milder than the -50 degrees that Wattie can expect to encounter in Alaska.Many respresentatives from the local media attended and the event was widely covered, which means that Wattie's Great Race is now truly on the map.  Our thanks to Carol from Kevin's Day (Click Sargent) who
added her support and to 'team Iditarod' who came along to help with the dogs and the general set up of the day.Supported by Kay Brandist of Mullen Wilson Ltd who has sponsored this new website and has been providing advice and support to Wattie and captured on film by Pigeon Media Solutions of Aberdeen, the launch was a well managed and colourful event.  We now look forward to the USA launch which is due to take
place in Anchorage in January. Saturday 15th November - 10am - 4pm
Meet Wattie and the team at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre Sunday 23rd November - 10am - 4pm
Meet Wattie and the team at Dobbies Garden Centre, Hazelhead, Aberdeen UK launch of Wattie's Great Race will take place on Monday 10th November at Aberdeen Snowsports Centre 11am.
Tunnocks donate £100 to Wattie's Great Race
Pigeon Media Solutions, a film production company based in Aberdeen are to make a documentary of Wattie's Great
Race
Nordikota Print Studio provide promotional clothing in support of Wattie's Great Race
Northern outfitters sponsor Wattie's Great Race
Mullen Wilson Ltd (Charity Support Services) sponsor Wattie's Great Race
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