The checker’s list at Unalakleet this morning looked like Who’s Who in the long distance sled dog racing world – Lance Mackey, Martin Buser, Rick Swenson and Hugh Neff were amongst the teams resting on the coast. Consider the collection of Championship hardware between these men. Lance has four Iditarod and four Yukon Quest trophies. Martin has collected four Iditarod Championships. Rick is the only person to stand under the Burled arch in first place five times. Hugh Neff has yet to lead the field into Nome but he collected the Yukon Quest Trophy just a few weeks go. Jeff King was also in town this morning after scratching from the race late yesterday. He’s another four time Iditarod Champion and has one Quest trophy. Add all those Iditarod wins together – seventeen! This meeting of the minds took place while the air temperature was minus 30 degrees and the winds were calm.

As the sun climbed above the horizon, laughter could be heard from where the teams were parked. Martin Buser and Rick Swenson were sharing stories and laughing heartily. Lance Mackey was inside enjoying buttermilk pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs prepared by Middy Johnson, former Unalakleet mayor. Hugh Neff lead the Who’s Who group out of Unalakleet followed by the Martin and Rohn, Rick then Lance.

Hugh Neff supports literacy and is often seen wearing a red and white striped Cat in the Hat style hat. His dogs sport red and white striped dogs coats. Considering the overnight and early morning temperatures those unmistakable Neff coats were probably greatly appreciated by the canine athletes. It wasn’t the flashy coats that Martin and Hugh were talking about, it was the blue booties worn by Hugh’s team. Martin was sharing information about a new design with a tuck. Hugh listened intently before pulling the hooks and leaving the checkpoint for Shaktoolik.

The father-son Busers were parked beside each other on the slough. As Rohn and Martin fed and bootied prior to departing for Shaktoolik, it was like seeing double. The two men move and work with the dogs almost identically. As a matter of fact, when the men and dogs mushed under the Kouwegok Bridge just outside the checkpoint, they were dressed identically and it was impossible to tell who was following and who was leading.

Looking at these fellows who have collected all the Iditarod gold, one has to think perseverance. Last year, Rick Swenson broke his collarbone coming down the Happy River Steps – clearly a reasonable cause to scratch at Rainy Pass. But Rick found a way to adapt his sled driving and dog care to what his injury would allow and finished his 35th  Iditarod in twentieth place. Lance is a cancer survivor who says that if it wasn’t for his dogs and mushing life he might have given up when the recovery was really tough. A few days before the 2005 race, Martin shortened the second finger of his right hand using a band saw. Saying that his dogs had worked too hard to stay home, Martin adapted his driving and dog care so that he could manage with one strong hand and one very painful hand. These guys who hold a collective thirteen Iditarod championships are diligent, dedicated and determined.

Born to Run,

Sanka