Iditarod: The Old Timer & the Youngsters plus a Father & Son match

Jim Lanier, 69 of Chugiak, AK wears Bib # 43

He studied medicine/pathology at Washington University in St. Louis and the Mayo Clinic. After receiving his medical degree, he moved to Alaska in 1967 to serve at the Native hospital in Anchorage with the United States Public Health Service. A pathologist for 33 years, Jim is now retired from his work as a pathologist and says his current occupations are musher (since 1977), singer (all his life) and papa (41 years).
...
He completed his first Iditarod in 1979. He has now entered and completed thirteen Iditarods, including at least one in all four decades the race has been in existence. His goal is to make it five decades and in a competitive fashion. "After that, who knows?" He says.

(Emphasis added.) Let's see 1979 to 2010. Jim has been running the Iditarod for 31 years!?!!?!!! THIRTY-ONE! And it sounds like he'll be back next year (God willing) to make it five decades.

That first race of his took place before any of the following youngsters were even a gleam in their papas eye!

*****

Quinn Iten (Rookie) of Kotzebue, AK, wears Bib Number: 28

Quinn Iten, will be 18 in December of this year [2009 which means he was born in 1991] and the youngest musher to enter the 2010 Iditarod and one of the youngest ever to run the Iditarod. The son of Iditarod veteran, Ed Iten, Quinn said he thought it was "only natural" that he would run the Iditarod before he leaves home.
...
Quinn is a senior in high school and will graduate in December of this year. Next year, he plans to attend the University of Alaska at Fairbanks but says "I have no clue what I will major in."

At 18 years of age, Quinn is the baby of this year's group. That last line sounds so typical of a 18-year old. Right now, his goal is Nome.


Peter Kaiser (Rookie) from Bethel, AK, wears Bib Number: 67

Peter Kaiser, 22 [born in 1988], was born and raised in Bethel, Alaska. He graduated from Bethel High School in 2005 and has worked on a tug boat for Bering Marine Corporation for the last two years. He says, "Our family has always had dogs, and I've been mushing since I was a kid. Watching the Kuskokwim 300 every January sparked my interest in long distance racing, and a few years ago, I decided that I would give the Iditarod a try." Peter says he enjoys boats and the great outdoors.

Dallas Seavey Seward, AK,with Bib Number: 41

Dallas Seavey, 22, was born in Virginia [born in 1988] and his family moved to Seward when he was five. He is a third generation musher who grew up helping his dad, Mitch, the 2004 Iditarod champion, train his racing teams. In 2005 Dallas became the youngest musher in history to run the Iditarod. He also wrestled for Sky View High School and spent one year training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He is a High School State Champion, a Jr. National Champion, and was on the 2005 Jr. World team. He is owner/manager of WildRide Sled Dog Rodeo in Anchorage. Dallas is married to Jen, a veteran of the 2009 Iditarod.

Currently in First Place as he sits in Cripple, Dallas has--or perhaps is currently taking--his 24-hour rest. He has a a small team of just 13 dogs at the present, but they have shown remarkable speed on the trail. If he is to have a chance at a first place finish, he's going to need that speed. Former winners are at Cripple with him and several, including his dad Mitch Seavey, have finished their 24-hour rest and are on their way!

So, there you have it. The Old Guy and the kids. Plus a father and son match.