AR-News: (MN) Former Minnesota Viking All-Pro takes up sled dog racing

[Glickman37 at aol.com]

http://www.hibbingmn.com/placed/index.php?sect_rank=2&story_id=167208 

Former 'Purple People Eater' visits Hibbing 
Matt Blair will race Beargrease for Special Olympics
By Gary Giombetti
The Daily Tribune
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 09th, 2004 03:26:21 PM

HIBBING — For 12 season, Matt Blair tackled ball carries as an outside 
linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings. 

Now, Blair is tackling another opponent — sled dogs. 

The former Viking All-Pro will be mushing in the John Beargrease Mid-Distance 
sled dog race, which begins today in Duluth. 

It will be his first race, and he is mushing to raise money for the Special 
Olympics. 

“I’m calling it training camp 101,” Blair said. “Where and when I train, 
there’s no electricity, no running water. It’s the outdoors way of training. 

“I’ve fallen nine times, but I take the bumps and bruises and keep on 
plugging. It’s for a good cause.” 

Blair is no stranger to doing charity work. He oversees golf outings during 
the summer, and he also does appearances, like he did at the Salvation Army in 
Hibbing Thursday. 

But why did he choose sled dog racing for his latest endeavor? 

“It’s something new,” Blair said. “It’s a challenge, plus I love dogs.” 

Blair had two dogs, but one, a German Shepherd named Lazarus, passed away 
some 40 days ago. 

When he decided to run in the Beargrease, Blair had to travel 325 miles from 
his Twin Cities home to Grand Marais, then another 11 miles to his training 
facility. 

He’s done that four times since he decided to run the race. He’ll practice 
one more time before hitting the trails today. 

The hardest part of sled dog racing, according to Blair, is maneuvering the 
sled left when he wants to go right. He has to shift his weight. 

During one practice, Blair, who has had knee replacement surgery, fell so 
hard that it brought back memories of his Sunday afternoon ordeals in the 
National Football League. 

“I came to a ridge and had to make a left turn on it,” Blair said. “I did it 
once where I jumped and stayed on. One other time I hit the asphalt under the 
snow with both my hands. 

“It stung, but I got back up on my sled again. It (the blow) felt like two 
offensive linemen were coming at me.” 

With all his practice runs behind him, Blair said he’ll be ready to go when 
his time comes to start the race. 

“My adrenaline will be flowing, just like a football game,” Blair said. “If 
it doesn’t do that, there’s something wrong with you. I’ve been there before. 


“When you play the game, you want to get those emotions and heart rate going 
right before the race. It’ll come easy for me because I’ve done it so many 
times in life.” 

Once he’s out on the trail, Blair will be required to take an eight-hour 
rest, which he will accomplish by stopping for four hours apiece at two different 
checkpoints. 

He’s certainly concerned about finishing, but he’s more interested in taking 
care of the dogs. He’ll start with eight, and hopefully, finish with eight. 

“You have to keep the dogs healthy,” Blair said. 

But how will he occupy his mind while he’s mushing up the North Shore? 

“I’ll think about the dogs and make sure they’re not tangled up and they’re 
running right,” Blair said. “All make sure all of their booties are on.” 


He’ll be doing a lot of thinking with all that time to himself, especially 
about the races namesake, John Beargrease. He wants to avoid other problems, 
too. 

“He was a Chippewa Indian who delivered his mail by dog sled,” Blair said. “
I also have a little bell on my sled to scare away the wild animals.” 

Blair had that bell made special for himself. It has the names of John 
Beargrease and Lazarus on it. 

“It’s comforting,” Blair said. “It will help me think about what I’m doing. 
That will be my tunes on the way instead of Yanne.” 

While he’s mushing, Blair will also be earning that money for Special 
Olympics. With 6,500 kids in the program, Blair would like to raise $1 per kid. That’
s his first goal, his second goal is finishing the race. 

“If I accomplish those two things, I win for the kids,” Blair said. “This is 
a race of life. They want to finish that race, too. They’re the winners if I 
do those two things.” 
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