Nome’s Sled Dog Spa, AKA Dog Lot

The busiest day on Front Street of the 2015 race was Saturday the 21st of March.  Twenty-five teams completed the race commencing with Ben Harper in 36th place at 02:28:15 and concluding with Alan Eischens in 60th place at 21:56:36.  That means Front Street wasn’t the only place that was busy, the Nome Dog Spa would be too.  There was also a golf tournament out on the Bering Sea, a Native Art Fair at Old St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the World’s Largest Basketball Tournament at the Nome Recreation Center.  Indeed, there’s no place like Nome.

Yuka Honda has finished her first Iditarod.  She’s not a stranger to long distance racing as she’s also finished the Yukon Quest.  Honda was born and raised in Japan.  After studying agricultural physics, she moved to the Yukon Territory in Canada and took a job as a dog handler.  After watching the Iditarod on television she began to dream of running the race.  She has twenty-six dogs and calls them her family.  Yuka finished in 55th with a time of 12 day 8 hours and 32 minutes.  Determination is a part of Yuka’s character.  She attempted the Yukon Quest twice before she was able to finish in 2013.  There is a musher on the trail, but it’s not Yuka who used a  “Honda” theme for naming a litter of pups.  The mother’s name is Honda and her pups were named Civic and Prelude.

Rookie Alan Stevens followed Yuka to the burled arch to claim 56th place with a time of  12 days 8 hours and 43 minutes.  Stevens was born and raised in Texas then moved to Colorado to attend college.  Trained as an engineer, Alan took a job with the colorado School of Mines doing research in waste water bioremediation.  He’s a guy that’s pretty in tune with the environment.  While working in Juneau for Alaska Icefield Expeditions, he fell in love with sled dogs.  Competing in the Iditarod became his dream.  Alan joined Martin Buser’s apprentice program where he began leaning, training and racing with the incredible canine athlete.  For Stevens, Iditarod was the “ultimate” in mushing.  

Becca Moore, an Iditarod rookie is no stranger to the world of sled dogs and long distance racing.  She finished the Yukon Quest in 2009.  She began mushing in Y2K and began thinking about doing the Iditarod.  Fifteen years later, through planning, preparation, practice and perseverance Becca stood under the burled arch in Nome.  She claimed 57th place in a time of 12 days 10 hours and 56 minutes.  Moore and her husband, Ramey Smyth along with their two children maintain a kennel of 49 huskies.  The kids are completely involved in all aspects of the kennel.  They might find themselves taking care of puppies, hopping in the sled for a long run or hopping on the runners for a race of their own.  Becca is personally interested in promoting healthy activities for children.  It’s critically important the kids get exercise and eat healthy foods.  Becca’s 2015 Iditarod team consisted of some hardened veterans, young dogs and a few dogs that are new to their kennel.  What did Becca like most about the Iditarod?  She gave a pretty simple straight forward answer, “Sharing all of the adventure with my amazing dogs.”

With a time of 12 days 10 hours and 57 minutes, rookie Steven Watkins claimed his Iditarod Finisher’s Belt Buckle.  After being injured in Afghanistan in 2013, Watkins set his sights on Iditarod.  With a 90% disability from war related injuries, Steven says to other wounded warriors, “If I can do something like this, then so can you.”  To accomplish his dream, Watkins began training with Ray Redington Jr.  Watkins ran one of three teams out of the Redington Kennel this race.  Besides Ray himself there was also rookie, Ben Harper.  Last spring, Watkins climbed Denali and in the Chute he told us that he was set to summit Everest and would be leaving for that expedition almost immediately after the Finisher’s Banquet on Sunday.  He dedicates his efforts to raise awareness for wounded veterans, especially those suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  While under the arch, Watkins took the mic and publicly thanked everyone who’s served, especially those who died so that I may live.

Mark Selland

Mark Selland claimed 59th with a time of 12 days 11 hours and 22 minutes.  Selland is a physician who’s interested in the effects of high altitude.  He’s worked at the research lab on Mt. McKinley and has summited Everest.  Interesting about the number of Iditarod mushers who’ve either had the experience of climbing Everest and finishing Iditarod or have plans to climb like Steve Watkins.  When Cindy Abbott makes Nome early this evening, She’ll join the ranks of the few who have conquered Everest and Iditarod. 

Marks’ first mushing experience was a ride in Denali Park.  Since then he’s gotten into Skijoring and has become a handler for Iditarod veteran and fellow physician, Robert Bundtzen.  Mark says, “I have developed a deep respect for the athletic abilities of these amazing animals and enjoy being around mushers.  I’m looking forward to the chance to work with these great athletes and experience the adventure and challenges of the trail.