Mush!!

Yesterday marked the first day of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, in Anchorage, Alaska. Since I have a ridiculous love for dogs and sledding, I thought it time for me to learn a thing or two about what is called 'The Last Great Race'.

The Iditarod (first of all, I did not know there was a 't' in the word....the 't' is pronounced like a 'd' so you could imagine my shock when I discovered this....) is a dog sled race from Anchorage to Nome, over approximately 1,150 miles of frozen lakes and rivers, mountain ranges and dark dense forest. The race is usually held in freezing if not below freezing temperatures, and often with limited to no visibility, and, finished within 10 to 17 days. I just checked the official Iditarod website and it is 29 degrees. That's like 90 for Alaska.

The Iditarod Trail, now a National Historic Trail, had its beginnings as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns to mining camps and beyond to the west coast communities. Mail and supplies went in. Gold came out. All via dog sled. Heroes were made, legends were born.
In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria threatened and serum had to be brought in; again by intrepid dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving dogs.
The Iditarod is a commemoration of those yesterdays.

While on the trail and in the race, each Musher has a different strategy for crossing the finish line before the other racers. They may race at night versus the day. They may feed their dogs at different schedules, including snack and water breaks. The Musher knows each and every dog by name, knows it's personal stamina, and knows it's personality and abilities and when they need a rest or may be injured. Which brings me to the dogs, who are really the stars of the show!

Each dog is tested by Official Iditarod (oh that 't', I just can't get used to it) Veterinarians using intensive health screening protocols and evaluations prior to and during the race. On average, each dog will be examined a total of 10,000 times during the training process, mid-race, and race completion! Wow. And finally, prior to the race, each dog is implanted with a micro-chip that is scanned at the start line to prove their eligibility. Sled Dogs have a reputation as being solely of the Alaskan Husky breed, but the ISDVMA (International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association) board of directors recently had to adopt an official definition of a sled dog, and this is the criteria that must be met:

*Demonstrate a willingness to be harnessed and desire to participate in the activity for which it is harnessed.
*Be adequately trained and conditioned for such activity as established by participation in prior events or by demonstration of an appropriate training and conditioning program as determined by knowledgeable race officials, including the race marshal, race judge(s) and race veterinarian(s).
*Be vaccinated and dewormed as required by event rules.
*Be capable of withstanding environmental extremes as deemed appropriate by knowledgeable race officials.
*Pass a pre-race physical exam by a veterinarian who has specific training and knowledge applicable to sled dogs.

Also, each Musher must start with a maximum of 16 dogs, and finish with a minimum of 5. At no point along the race can any dog be replaced....you must finish with dogs you started with and are allowed to 'drop' dogs should they become fatigued or injured, but once that dog is dropped (not quite literally, someone comes to get the dog, nurses it back to health and lovingly returns it to you upon finish) you are one dog less and SOL my friend. Oh and these dogs LOVE. TO. RUN. Some of the dogs running this year even have on-line profiles: Smudge, Bear, Lady, Bugs, Crackle, Sockeye, Babe, Monty, Shy Girl, Marlin, Trapper, Starman and Earp, to name a few.

I will be following the progress of each racer and will keep you posted! Prepare to be bored by Iditarod (oh , that T!!!!) info all week!