Iditarod sled dog race ceremonial start

[Blue_In_AK]

Today was the ceremonial start of the 1100-mile Iditarod sled dog race from Anchorage (or Willow, actually) to Nome. They always do a "fun run" on the day before here in town and then start the real race the next day. Basically today was just a big block party with lots of barking dogs, autograph-signing mushers, free hot chocolate, and an 11-mile run. Here are a few pix...

This is DeeDee Jonrowe, who has been running the Iditarod (among other races) since 1980 and has had 13 top 10 finishes. She has the fastest time ever by a woman and survived breast cancer in 2003 to run again. She's really quite a hero up here, a very gutsy woman.



The first of 83 teams



Hyper dogs ready to run. All the dogs are so excited to get out on the trail, pulling and jumping, barking their heads off.









The next generation



Four-time winner Martin Buser, who also holds the fastest ever time for the Iditarod, eight days and some hours.



HullBoss, dog handler



Tomorrow we're driving out to Willow for the restart, and I'll try to position myself to get some good action shots. We have to get out there very early since Jim is a volunteer, so I should be able to find a good spot.

[Boo_Radley]

1. Good shot of HullBoss

I can't believe those little pup's are able to pull a pack sled and rider as far and as fast as they do.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. They are really amazing...

And, yes, they are basically small and wiry, not big and muscular like what you might imagine. I think most of them are mixed breeds, a lot of husky with a bunch of other stuff thrown in, and they do love to run. The handlers have to really hold them back while they're waiting their turn, as you can tell from the pictures. PETA pretty regularly gives us a hard time about this race, but it's so obvious the dogs are enjoying themselves. And they are extremely well taken care of - veterinarians monitor the race from beginning to end.

[NV Whino]

3. Do the dogs wear the mittens/socks in the real race?

Looking forward to more pics.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. I believe they do,

but, to tell you the truth, I've never attended the restart, so I'll be able to tell you for sure tomorrow.

[Robb]

10. Hey! Something I know something about!

Yep, booties are right after "food" on the musher's list of essentials. Great stories abound of mushers in the rear picking up booties kicked off by the leaders' dogs, a real money-saver, that.

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. Love the shots n/t

[CC]

6. Great shots, can't wait to see

tomorrows and find out if the pups wear booties then too. The dogs do look like they are ready to get going.

[Immad2]

7. Excellent photos Blue_In_AK! Thanks for sharing.n/t

[smurfygirl]

8. Great shots Blue

Please post more....

[Robb]

9. Excellent shots!

My pups had brothers and sisters racing last year for Stormwatch; I've got a couple of Marlytuk Siberians under my roof.

Great, great pic of HullBoss. Something for the back cover of the memoirs.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. We're back from the restart...

...absolutely beat, so I don't know if I'll get any more shots up tonight, but I got at least one photo of every single team. I promise I won't post all 84.

[intheflow]

12. I saw the start on tv and looked for you in the crowd.

But those stupid videographers kept pointing their cameras at the dogs!

I like these shots immensely, but I'm a sucker for all things dog. Although I did do a double take on a few of the shots because they at first looked like doggie porn.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. My brother said he thought he saw HullBoss

on TV at the ceremonial start, but I don't know about yesterday. There were media people all over the place. I had myself parked about two-thirds of the way across the lake to escape the crowd and got some pretty good unobstructed shots from out there. I've been too busy working today to cull through my photos from yesterday's restart, but hopefully tonight I can get some up. It was really a lot of fun, and the weather was great, about 25 so not too cold.