The driving force in every sled dog's heart is running. But do prizes and prestige outweigh better judgement?
The Iditarod 2007 is now underway. Eighty-two teams of sixteen dogs, pulling their sleds and mushers, have left Anchorage bound for Nome. I know that the driving force in every sled dog's heart is running. Watching videos of them jumping, lunging and barking reveals that they can't wait to be on the trail. These elite champions will get the best of care including high-performance food, fleece lined booties, t-shirts when they need them, and veterinary checks at the checkpoints. These huskies are tough little athletes who have been prepared and conditioned all year long. However, dogs who love to run as much as these dogs do, do not always know when enough is enough. This is only day 3, with many more miles ahead. It will be up to the musher to rest them when necessary. I hope that prizes and prestige under the burled arches do not outweigh better judgement when it comes to taking care of the dogs. All in all, if it were me and my dogs, I probably would not be willing to drive them hard enough to be in the least bit competitive. You can keep up with progression of the race here .
