As a child growing up in the midwest I was always a dog lover.  I constantly brought home stray dogs, much to my parents' dismay.  As a teenager we took a family vacation to Alaska where I saw my first sled dog team in action at Denali Park.  I was fascinated that people still ran sled dogs in today's day and age, and I told myself that I wanted to be a part of it.  The day after graduating from college in 1994 I headed north up the Alaska highway to follow my dream and have lived here ever since.  In 1998 I finished the Yukon Quest and finished the Iditarod in 2001, becoming one of only a handful of women to ever finish both races.  I enjoyed the races immensely but am now more focused on running shorter stage and sprint races.


Gwen's prosperities:

• 1st place 2003 Wyoming Stage Stop
• 2nd place 2003 Atta Boy 300 Stage Race
• 3rd place 2003 Mid-Distance World Cup
• 2001 Iditarod Finisher
• 1998 Yukon Quest Finisher