Two have had to scratch: Zoya DeNure (5) whom I discussed yesterday and Karin Hendrickson (23) whose sled broke up on her.
Bib #23: Karin Hendrickson
Karin Hendrickson, 39, was born and raised in California. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1991 and has lived in Idaho and Colorado working as a teacher and college student. She now works in Environmental Regulation here in Alaska, where she moved in 2003 to run dogs.
Karin sees the race as a calling; a chance to see the wild Alaska in a unique way. Although running near the end of the pack she had hopes and dreams to finish the race--an achievement in itself. When her equipment broke down on her she was heart broken.
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Currently carrying the Red Lantern (last in the race) and wearing Bib #22 is Rookie Jane Faulkner
Jane Faulkner, 49, was born in Oregon and raised in the Bay Area in California. She received her A.D. in nursing at the College of Marin and has been a registered nurse for 20 years. She moved to Alaska on Christmas Day in 1990, "following my heart."
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Still running with the big boys--although she has dropped down to 13th place is Aliy Zirkle wearing Bib #50
Aliy Zirkle, 40, was born in New Hampshire. She went to college at the University of Pennsylvania where she majored in biology. In 1990 she came to Alaska to volunteer with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. ... She began mushing in 1993 and said she started by running a trap line, then ran (and won) the Yukon Quest and now she's doing the Iditarod. For the last nine years, she has been a dog musher and a carpenter.
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Bib # 31 belongs to DeeDee Jonrowe who currently sits in 19th place.
DeeDee Jonrowe, 56, was born in Frankfort Germany while her father was in the military. The family moved to Alaska in 1971 where her dad was stationed at Ft. Richardson. DeeDee has a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences and Renewable Resources and now lists her occupation as kennel owner and dog racer. ... She is a triathlete and bike racer.
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About two hours behind DeeDee at the last checkpoint (McGrath) is Jessie Royer wearing Bib #6
Jessie Royer, 33, was born in Idaho. She grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana where she lived for 21 years. She worked on ranches as a horse wrangler & horse teamster. She says she got her first sled dogs when she was 15. ... She now has a kennel north of Fairbanks with 65 dogs. Jessie has extensive mushing experience including having won Montana's Race to the Sky when she was only 17 and she was the winner of the invitational La Grande Odyssey in France in 2005.
These women (like the men) come from all over and have remarkable backgrounds. But they all have one thing in common: they love their dogs and the chance to get on the trail and go mushing with 16 of their canine friends. Big time! They have all heard the call.
1 comment:
It is often said, up here, that there are only two types of people who move to Alaska: those who want to be here, and those who are running from something.
For the record, it's not always safe to inquire too closely of an Alaskan's background. "Approach with caution" is a good method ... just sayin'.
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