ANCHORAGE (Reuters) – As snow fell lightly and crowds of spectators were crowded along the sidewalks of downtown Anchorage, 57 mushers and their dog teams started the 48th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday.
Musher Sean Underwood, a handler who became a last-minute replacement for quadruple champion Jeff King after he underwent emergency surgery, salutes the team inside King’s dog truck in the center – Anchorage town at the start of the Iditarod Trail 2020 sled dog race, Alaska, United States March 7, 2020. REUTERS / Yereth Rosen
The 11-mile trot through Alaska’s largest city was simply ceremonial, intended to be a low-stress event where mushers could mingle with Iditarod fans. The timed competition for the 1000 mile race is scheduled to start Sunday afternoon from a frozen lake in Willow, a community north of Anchorage, and the winner is expected to arrive at the finish line in Nome approximately nine days after .
For runner Sean Underwood, Saturday’s pageantry was anything but routine.
Underwood, 28, from Atlanta, is a dog handler working for four-time champion Jeff King. Saturday, on the starting line, he found himself in his boss’ snow boots. King was put out of competition Monday evening with emergency surgery for a perforated bowel; Underwood, who had planned to run his first Iditarod next year, has obtained special permission to lead King’s team at Nome.
“It’s been a pretty crazy week,” said Underwood, whose preparations for Saturday morning were repeatedly interrupted by journalists who were looking for interviews.
He said deep snow on the trail this year would likely slow the pace and provide plenty of rest, but he has few expectations beyond that.
“I will understand this in about 10 days,” he said. “I feel like I’m about as prepared as possible with five days’ notice.”
Another unexpected feature of this year’s race is a particular focus on preventing the spread of disease, which race directors are undertaking as the new epidemic of coronavirus spreads. Although no cases have yet been reported in Alaska, race officials have received special briefings from state officials.
In at least one native village along the circuit, Koyuk, residents were concerned that crowds of Iditarod would bring the coronavirus, said four-time champion Martin Buser.
“Once there, we hope their fears of spreading the virus have subsided a bit,” he said.
Running water and wastewater services are not always available in parts of rural Alaska, but Buser said he tried to be as hygienic as possible along the route. Iditarod trail.
“You will see me doing the dishes anyway, wherever there is running water,” he said. “I will continue to do it, not just for myself but for the people watching.”
Concerns about communicable diseases are part of the history of the Iditarod Trail. The race, which has been going on since 1973, commemorates a 1925 rescue mission that sent Nome a sled relay rescue drug against diphtheria.
Among this year’s championships are mushers from Norway, including 2018 champion Joar Leifseth Ulsom, Italy, Canada and Denmark.
The winner will receive a prize of approximately $ 55,000 and a new van. The cash prize is lower than in previous years; The Iditarod has lost several corporate sponsors, a trend that animal rights activists boast about. Groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have condemned the Iditarod as cruel.
On Saturday, a group of local PETA activists held protest signs at the start of the race. There was also a counter demonstration. Anchorage muralist Richard “Ziggy” Zeigler, wearing a large fur hat, stood in front of the PETA group and repeatedly shouted: “Support the Iditarod! Ask PETA to come home! ”
Report by Yereth Rosen; Editing by Daniel Wallis
