Charlie Allison, 16, lived on the beach in California before moving to Alaska. He swam competitively there and went to several Jr. Olympics and State Championships. Since moving to Alaska and getting a litter of sled dog pups from his brother, Charlie has been running dogs. He says he started running three or four dogs and then increased until he was running a team. He’s run the Jr. Iditarod twice, winning the red lantern the first time and finishing 15th the second time. In 2007, he ran the Jr. Cantwell Classic and came in third place, two minutes behind the leader. Charlie lives in Talkeetna with his grandmother, brother, sister-in-law, nephew and mom and dad. He and his brother and sister-in-law share the kennel. Charlie has been home schooled since the third grade and is now in the 11th grade. He participates in theater and assists with distance education programs. He says his hobbies, besides mushing, are reading, history, fishing, baking, video games and technology. He wants to run the Iditarod when he is 18 and then go to college and major in history or archeology. He says he wants to continue running dogs but may not continue racing.