TTP | Hammer of the Dogs
Iditarod -
March 5th, 2010
Whether it be facing Brock Lesnar in the Octagon, hunting lion with the Maasai in Tanzania, or hoisting Kirstie Alley onto your shoulders for a game of chicken at the Bel Air Country Club pool, man has always had the propensity to challenge himself no matter how daunting the task.
Tomorrow, the 38th running of the Iditarod kicks off in Anchorage, AK with 71 teams representing five different countries (including one from Jamaica). Sub-zero temperatures, gale force winds, and possible white-outs make the 1,161 mile race quite arduous. Staring at 16 dogs’ asses for 10-17 days in a row make it quite monotonous.
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11,000
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Calories burned by an Alaskan Husky each day during the race. Based on body weight, the dog’s caloric burn is eight times the burn of a Tour de France cyclist. |
I tell diabetic kids that if I can run a dog sled across the state of Alaska for 1,150 miles, then you can get off the couch and do anything a non-diabetic can do.
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Bruce Linton, Iditarod competitor,
diabetic, and hater of couches
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booties
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noun. A type of sock that is made to protect the dogs’ feet from small cuts and sores from ice during the race.
Used in a sentence: “That bitch bit Bob when he grabbed her booty.”
The Red Lantern Award is presented to the last place musher every year. It is considered a symbol of perseverance. The longest time for a Red Lantern was 32 days, five hours, and nine minutes by John Schultz in 1973.
After 32 days of freezing in the wilderness, we’re guessing John would have preferred a cup of hot chocolate instead.
Ready, Set, Go!
| Trans Europa Foot Race | Long distance ultra-marathon that consists of crossing Europe on foot. |
| Mongol Derby | Ten days to cover a 1,000 km course through the wild Mongolian steppe. |
| Yukon River Quest | Four-hundred-and-sixty mile Canoe and Kayak Race. |
| Clipper Round the World Yacht Race | Conveniently self-explanatory. |
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In a word, the Iditarod is badass. Racing over 1,150 miles from Anchorage in south central Alaska to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast, one musher and his team will cross the finish line first. Lance Mackey has won the last three. Who will it be this year? Follow all the action at www.iditarod.com. |
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