The Iditarod dog sled races have been going on for 40 plus years, but this was the first year I really took an interest in it. The race usually starts in Anchorage, but because of the lack of snow this winter in Anchorage the starting of the race was moved to Fairbanks. The race route went right by a friends house, so Dave and I dressed for the zero weather and stood on the frozen river to watch the dog teams (16 to 18 dogs per team) head out for Nome. We actually took our two granddaughters out of school for a couple hours so they could witness the annual event. Read about the sled dog relay that inspired the Iditarod.
I clipped out pictures from the newspaper of all 78 mushers and made a chart - keeping track of each musher's location and race standing. A couple times every day I would check the race standings at iditarod.com and update my chart. Racers of interest to me were…..
- Benjamin Harper from Wasilla…..the youngest racer - 18 years old. This was his first Iditarod race and he actually came in #36.
- Jim Lanier from Chugiak - the oldest racer at 74 years old. Unfortunately he scratched in Unalakleet.
- The winner, Dallas Seavey - 27 years old, from Willow. This was his 3rd win and he won $70,000 in cash plus a new truck.
- Mitch Seavey from Sterling, Dallas’ Dad, came in 2nd place. He finished the race about 4 hours and 10 minutes behind his son.
- Aliy Zirkle and her husband, Allen Moore, from Two Rivers, were both in the race. She came in 5th place and he came in 38th.
- Anna from Wasilla, and Kristy Berington from Kasilof, are twins. They stayed together for the entire race coming in at the 28th and 29th positions. Anna crossed the finish line 4 minutes and 20 seconds ahead of Kristy.
- Lance Mackey from Fairbanks is an all time favorite champion. He and his brother Jason from Wasilla raced together. Lance had severe frostbite on his hands and had difficulty handling his dogs, so his brother stayed with him and helped him to complete the race. They came in 42nd and 43rd place……Lance finished 42 seconds behind his brother.
- Cindy Abbott, 56 years old from Irvine, CA, finished last; receiving the Red Lantern award. I love that she kept going. Even though everyone else had finished the race, she just didn't quit.
Of the 78 starters, 66 mushers finished the race. I admire their endurance, tenacity, perseverance, hard work, commitment, determination, passion….the will to not give up. They encountered -60 degree temperatures, wind, frost bit toes and fingers, and many of them were secluded out on the trail with no other mushers. These people have become more than a bib number to me. I feel like I know them....they have become my friends.
They are an inspiration.....
- Never give up
- Learn all you can
- Count your blessings
- Keep the faith
- Never use the excuse “I’m too old” or "I'm not smart enough"
- Find ways to encourage or help someone else along the way
- Follow through
- There's only one winner but every racer can cross the finish line
- Celebrate big and little victories
- Enjoy the journey
