This weekend in CT we watched the 2009 Iditarod (that would be the 1,100 mile dogsled race in Alaska). Or rather, we watched 2 of the 3 TV specials on Versus, because their coverage only took us up to about day 6 in the 12 day race. So, I had to go google it and find out who won (since the winner finished a full week ago).
Some interesting facts:
- Winner Lance Mackey won, for the 3rd year in a row
- Like another well-known Lance, Mackey is also a cancer survivor and could not have won without a team of workhorses (15-four-legged Huskies)
- You'd have to finish in the top-10 in the race just to break even financially (race entry fee, transportation at the race, dog food etc). Note you still need a sled and a dog team.
- For the 30th place finisher (out of 67 starters), the purse works out to about $6 an hour. For a professional athlete. As for the extreme weather conditions with windchilll reaching 40 below... priceless
- Average pace of this year's race was slower than normal... Roughly 8-9 minute miles. For reference, I intend to run the Paris marathon within that range too. Note the marathon is only 26.2 miles
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