The above photos are of the top three men and women finishers in the 2009 Iditarod. The music is, I think, extremely appropriate given the venue for the concert: Athens, Greece.
The photos from top to bottom are identified as:
(1) John Baker (in blue), finished in third place.
(2) Sebastian Schnuelle, finished in second place.
(3) Sebastian and John sharing a meal at one of the checkpoints.
(4) Lance Mackey, the winner, at the finish line with Larry (right) and Maple (left).
(5) Aliy Zirkle, third place female and #17 overall.
(6) DeeDee Jonrowe, second place female and #13 overall.
(7) Jessie Royer, first female finisher and #8 overall.
Every musher who suited up and came to the start line in Willow, with a team of dogs and a sled, on March 8, 2009, is to be commended - even those who did not finish the race. The six men and women shown above deserve special recognition, but this blog will refrain from calling them all "winners." They, and every participant in the race, are heroes for sure, but there is only one "winner," and that's the racer who crossed the finish line first. That's why we have finish lines: to determine the winners. To call all participants "winners" diminishes the accomplishment of the one who finished first in the race, and lessens the incentive of all those who didn't to work harder to attain that which they were unable to attain this time. I have a feeling that all those mushers we've been following for the last couple weeks would agree with me. So, congratulations to LANCE MACKEY, the WINNER of the 37th Iditarod - The Last Great Race on Earth.
And so, the 2009 Iditarod is history, but this blog will continue under a new name (Ocean Kayaker) while maintaining the same address. What the blog will cover is yet unknown - even to the blogger.
