Journey to the Iditarod
Iditarod requires you to complete a minimum of 3 qualifiers before sending you down the tail. You need a minimum of 800 miles of racing, generally done in one 200 mile race and two 300+ mile race. All with good report cards and standings. Once those are completed, signing up is easy and the training begins!
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Goosebay 150
My first year I did not intend on racing at all. We were in Alaska for Anna and her Iditarod training. Alas! I found myself on the starting line of the Goosebay 150 (this mileage counts towards the 200 mile race). This race is an excellent out and back to a remote roadhouse. It is a short race, but it does teach a new musher to be self sufficient. The roadhouse checkpoint is the only place where you will see people. At the time, I didn't know I would race Iditarod in 2025, but it didn't hurt to run it as a qualifier. I placed 9th (it was a very small field of mushers) and was awarded the sportsmanship award.
Copper Basin
By our second season, Anna finished all of her qualifiers. We had a friend up for a visit that we took to Denali Brewing for a couple of beers. Halfway through our hang out it was decided that it would be a good idea for me to race Iditarod 2025. Many good ideas have been birthed over a couple of pints!
With Iditarod 2025 now on the horizon, I needed two more qualifiers. Anna was signed up for the CB300, but she gave me her slot. We ended up running this race together the next year because we love it so much. CB300 is known for great elevation change and good water crossings. I placed 21st.
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To learn more about my experience on the CB300 click HERE
Kobuk 440
My final qualifier landed me in the Arctic. The Kobuk 440 is one of the longer mid-distance races that is a good reflection of the Iditarod. It starts in Kotzebue, Alaska, and runs to a handful of remote villages in the arctic. It is a long grueling race due to the wind storms and lack of support. To this day, I love this race the most. The arctic, like the Boundary Water is under threat. I wish I could do more to protect it. Please check out No Ambler Road to gain more insight on the impacts of humans on Caribou herds and other wildlife. In this race I placed 8th.
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To learn more about my experience on the Kobuk 440 click HERE
Iditarod 2025!
Perhaps my most difficult adventure to date, racing the Iditarod was long, flat and grueling. And yet, I would do it again in a heartbeat. All of the training and racing was worth it. I placed 18th in this race. Click HERE to learn more about my Iditarod experience.