March Madness has begun.
I’m not talking about college basketball; After all, I am a dog. No, it is the first weekend in March and that means only one thing to all the puppies in the world. Time to ditch the stuffed toys and pulling ropes and focus on the Iditarod dog sled race.
The longest and most exhausting dog sledding event of the year has just started and I have compiled some frequently asked questions and answers so that you are well informed when you discuss the topic at your local fire hydrant tomorrow morning.
What does Iditarod mean?
Iditarod is believed to come from an Athabaskan Indian word pronounced “Hi-dit-a-rod”. It can mean several things based on context, including: 1) a distant or far away place, ie Alf came from Iditarod; 2) a stupid cat, that is, Mothball sure is an Itidatrod; or 3) a close encounter with Alex RodrÃguez, that is, I got drunk and Iditarod last night.
Why participate in the race?
For dogs it is simple, they have no other choice. Not all of us were lucky enough to be adopted by a clueless suburban couple. No, some of us rolled the dice and it occurred to Cornelius Klondike. But it beats the alternative of being in a cage at a homeless shelter (Psst … make sure your owner adopts from a shelter!).
For humans, there is an even simpler answer, the chance to win $ 68K and a truck. That’s not bad, especially when all it takes is standing on a sled and saying things like, “Mush!”, “Mush, stop begging for my ice chips!”, “Mush, you know you can’t. enter the snowbank! “
How long does the race last?
The race covers about 1,100 miles. Based on the average stride length, it would take almost four million steps from start to finish, or just over a million if chasing a chipmunk.
The best time in history was that of Martin Buser, who led his team to an impressive finish in just under nine days. The impetus for the fast trip is rumored to have come from the lead dog, Rufus, who had a date with a female dog at the end of the race.
Is it hot during the race?
It is considered warm only if you take into account the whiskey that runs through the veins of the mushers. Seriously, temperatures range from a warm 45 degrees to a squirrel chilling below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Add in the snow crystals attracted to the skin on your toes and you’ve got the recipe for the brain freeze that killed Elvis’s dog.
How many dogs are in a team?
The maximum number of dogs to start the race is 16. The minimum number of mushers to start is 12.
That may sound like a lot, especially when you consider that the Grinch only had one dog, Max, to pull a sleigh full of gifts for an entire village on board. Now that I think about it, even Santa only has 8 reindeer (9 if he needs a deer to guide his sleigh), but again they are reindeer and they should be able to pull more than one dog. Hmm, they have to fly though. I don’t know if that helps or hurts.
Anyway, 12 – 16 start and on average only 8 – 10 finish. Why delivery? Some stop at rest areas, drink too many margaritas, and fall asleep.
What is the best strategy to win?
All the former winners agree; the best strategy to win is to reach the finish line before the others.
Hopefully that will bring you up to speed on all things Iditarod and you won’t look silly at your next canine meeting.
Until next time, I’ll curl up in front of the fireplace and dream of the glory of Iditarod.