Hi Everyone! We are flying high!
I had SO much fun! We worked hard, we played harder and enjoyed each day to the fullest with little to no sleep for 12 days. The Iditarod was more than just a race event for me--it was a life changing experience filled with awesome trails winding through some of the most scenic terrain, unforgettable sunsets and sunrise and some great challenges we would be determined to overcome on a day to day basis. My dogs had a good time out there and we thrived living and breathing together for 12 days. It's just you and your dogs and that's it. Simple, beautiful, tough at times when times feel tough but more than not----just unbelievable to have this experience and opportunity. The dogs make it possible and to them, I am thankful.
I felt nothing but loving support from the villages & the Iditarod crew and each day was truly a new day to look forward to as we made our way to Nome! I had some of the best days of my life on Iditarod with my dogs & traveling with other mushers, making new friends, and learning eso much about my dogs for the first time over this race course---things you just don't learn training from home or entering 200 and 300 mile races. Once you run and complete a 1000 mile journey with dogs, you will feel changed, you will be different--it changes you. You become a competent dog driver. You become solid--like a good dog. I had some little insecurities before the race, those have gone away.
The Iditarod is a trip of a lifetime and we're better for it. I will work on journaling my experiences in the next few weeks as i take time to reflect. I learned more about myself and my dogs in the last 2 weeks than in the last 6 years! We plan to return to race in the Iditarod in 2010.....we'll tell you why soon enough.
I just had the MOST amazing time of my life and feel so happy inside..the dogs were amazing, I didn't ever really see them tired, we did rest ALOT however..and this time around for me, was all about learning...from Anchorage to Nome with my 16 dog friends. In the next few weeks we'll be getting things ready for the Taiga 300 sled dog race happening April 1-5th. I have so many letters and emails to get back to and will do my best to do so in the next month--I'll slowly get back on this thing and journal as time allows.
Thank you to all who support us and we'll be in touch soon with more journaling and pictures....love xo Zoya & team
