What is it like to compete in the Iditarod or any sled dog race?
It is like nothing else I’ve ever done. The Iditarod, more than most other races, takes you to places mentally and physically where most people these days never go. You get tired, sore and sometimes hurt, and yet you find that you not only can keep going but also still have fun. It gives you new perspective on the rest of life. Q: How do weather conditions affect the race, you and the dogs? A: Weather is one of the biggest factors. Many mushers race their dogs according to a schedule, stopping when their team needs to rest, whether that is at a checkpoint or not. That means they’ll pull over for six hours or so in the middle of nowhere. If the weather is bad, that will limit their ability to run the race according to their plans, forcing them to pull over at checkpoints for shelter. Heavy snow also slows the teams down, causing mushers to change plans again. Weather is the single biggest factor affecting the race. Q: What does it take to train a puppy and prepare it for a race? At what
