By Andrew P.

In 1973 tons of people were coming down with a terrible sickness called Diphtheria. The sickness was in Nome, Alaska and the closest place to get the medicine was in Anchorage, Alaska and the Anchorage planes could not fly due to there being too much snow. Instead the musher's and dogs had to go get the medicine to the people and to honor them, Alaska holds the Iditarod which goes from Anchorage to Nome.

They usually start in Anchorage and go to Nome except this year they start in Fairbanks and went to Nome because there was not much snow. They go about 1049 miles to finish the race and close to 7 to 10 days to finish the race. There are usually 19 checkpoints, except the lack of snow made them have 16 checkpoints this year.

My musher is Kelly Maixner who is 39 years old. He was born and raised in North Dakota. His Bib Number is 9 and he is interested in pediatric

dentistry and has a pediatric dental registry that he received in Alaska where he now lives.

He started with only 2 pregnant female dogs and his dog population has grown to around 60 dogs!

He was also a farmer, a snowboard instructor, a soldier for the National Guard, a bartender, a doughnut-maker, a physical therapy assistant for the Phoenix Suns, and a semi-professional football player for the Bozeman Kodiaks.

The dogs breed is a Husky or Alaskan Malamute, and they wear a harness connected to other dogs harnesses and all harnesses also are roped to the sled so the musher can talk to his dogs and instruct them.

The dogs also wear booties to protect their feet.

One award is the Red Lantern Award for the last musher to finish

GCI Dorothy G. Page Halfway Award presented to the first musher to cross the halfway point of the Iditarod.

PenAir Spirit of Alaska Award presented to the first musher to reach McGrath.

Iditarod.com

Webliography