We've relied heavily on sports - even folks who aren't "sports fans" found themselves waiting for a weekly football game this fall... I even tuned in (almost willingly) to Golf. It's been a rough year. We're coming up on the one year anniversary, and what better way to kick off that celebration than by a completely revamped Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The race has so many changes it's almost unrecognizable but for the dogs and the mushers running them. There will be no finish in Nome. There will be no Ceremonial Start in Anchorage (I'm still crying). No start at the Willow Community Center. No large crowds at the start or finish. No checkpoints inside villages. Teams are running to the ghost town of Iditarod before returning to Deshka Landing (with a short jaunt around "the Flat"). We get the happy river steps and Dalzel Gorge going and coming.
Mushers have returned after self imposed hiatus, others have declared this their last hurrah.
What's the same are the dogs, the men and women who train/coach/run them and the SPIRIT of the Last Great Race.
Let's take a look at the roster as it stands as of February 26, 2021. I've added links to their known websites/social media so that fans can get to know the 47 teams ahead of race day. As always, once bib numbers are announced (I hear they are being selected at random by computer today) I'll edit with the teams in bib order. Edited to add bib numbers. This is how the roster stands as of February 27, 2021.
Are you ready? Who are you cheering for? Comment below with your hopes and predictions!
Thanks for the roster links.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading :)
DeleteWhat a great resource! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading!
DeleteWhat a great resource! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, awesome resource
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, glad to be of some help. :)
DeleteThanks, awesome resource
ReplyDeleteThis is terrific, thank you for doing this!
ReplyDeleteThis is terrific, thank you for doing this!
ReplyDeleteThank you and you are welcome. :)
DeleteThank you! This is so helpful! 😊
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!
Deletethank you so much
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Thank you for reading. :)
DeleteAwesome! This will come in handy!
ReplyDeleteGlad it can be used as a resource! Thank you for reading.
DeleteI can't tell you the surreal feeling of flying up to Alaska and back on the Monday after the start. With a layover in Seattle, I've always wondered about the respiratory infection/jet lag that I caught. But no fever, no COVID test last March, so by the time I was recovered the world had shut down. My friend who went with me and I laugh at the meme about how "If I knew this was the last time I would eat in a restaurant..." as we treated ourselves to dinner at Simon & Seafort's with a Baked Alaska (in Alaska!) for dessert.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Being sick is never fun, and yes it's a much different world it seems than this time last year. Pretty crazy how much so, really.
DeleteYum about Simon and Seafort's though! That's another thing I'm missing about this upcoming weekend, eating at all my favorites up in Anchorage!
Thanks so much, Toni! you know I am a Dallas fan, but it would be great if Ailey wins this year! Sure would love to see her win!!
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about this sport is you can like and hope for more than one. I'm always hoping for more than one of my favorites to win! Aliy finishing her career with a win would be the story of the race for sure.
DeleteThis is terrific! Thanks for putting this together!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! It's proof I have too much time on my hands (and I can't even blame the pandemic as I do this every year haha). Thank you for reading!
DeleteThis is an amazing find! And FYI, your IG link needs updated!!
ReplyDeleteI knoooooowwww I just hate wrestling with the code LOL
DeleteTHANKYOU Toni!
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