2008 Iditarod

One of the greatest races involving human endurance is the famed Alaska Iditarod that begins at Anchorage Alaska and ends up in Nome, over a 1000 miles away. The race uses dog sleds that are pulled by 12-16 dogs. It is an exciting symbiotic relationship between man and dog and a few women and dogs. I have a daughter who lives in Anchorage and as a result I have a tendency to cheer for things happening in this great state to the far north.

Lance Mackey won the race for the second arriving in Nome around 1:30 am (AST). His closest competitor, Jeff King, was 80 minutes behind. Racers will be straggling in for a week as the race winds down. All of them will know they have accomplished something significant. In human sports there are two events that hold my attention--the Tour De France and the Iditarod. Both are endurance events. Engine size and horsepower mean nothing. For the Tour it is the man and his bicycle. For the Iditarod it is the man and his dogs.

Concern was raised about the so-called abuse these dogs experience. If you think that then you should see the joy with which these dogs run. They are having fun, not suffering. Veterinarians are on the trail to check out the dogs at every check point. A sick or injured dog is airlifted back to Anchorage for treatment. How many of you do that for your dog? Kevin Ingram was at Rotary the other day and talked with a vet from K-State that goes up every year to work in the Iditarod. The vets who go will tell you the dogs are well fed and well treated. The worst thing a racer could do is abuse a dog. He would be drummed out of the Iditarod and send home, never allowed again to participate. These men love their dogs and care for them as well as train them year round.

So it was an exciting day. The conclusion of one of the greatest sporting events in the world. But the lower 48 media was too busy chasing Obama, Ferraro, Spitzer, and Clinton to televise an event with some real value to it.