Run with Reindeer - March 2011

The Running with the Reindeer is the afternoon events after all the Iditarod Dog Teams have left downtown.  There are the infamous Outhouse Races, Reindeer Hot Dogs (very very tasty), The pet and owner Look A Like Contest, Snowball (just like softball but wearing snowshoes) Game, and much much more. So this year I thought I would accomplish another first, Run with the Reindeer. Not as dangerous as Running with the Bulls in Spain but just as much fun. 

First a little site seeing and photography shots of the days events.  Here is another little Native selling her Girl Scout cookies. They taste great up here but we pay $5 per box. A bit more than in the Lower 48.  She was raising money to attend a fish camp this summer. We donated to her cause and gave the cookies to some other little kids nearby. 

Here is a local on his new FLAT tire bike.  He has about 15 miles on it and this hybrid costs about $2400.  Take a look at the close up of those tires. They are 8 inches wide and the chain stuff is incredible.  The wheel rims were so neat. I don't know if you can see it, but there are holes with light blue circle cut out of the rim. They reflect and just look cool.  No studs, unlike Ben's bike he uses for transportation and because Ben's tires are a bit small in width he has to have his tires with studs for traction. 

Can you see those neat blue dots?  They are just decorative and make the bike somewhat less heavy.

As you can see from Anchorage, Honolulu and Chicago are about the same distance from here.  So my question is this.  How come we can fly from Anchorage to Hawaii for $300 round trip and to fly to Chicago costs about $900 round trip.  Doesn't seem right.  I think the airlines need to get it together.  I am proud to announce that Alaska Air now travels from Alaska to the East Coast and down to the Texas. Anyone up for a trip to Alaska?

Some little kids made this when they got bored watching the mushers take off from the start.  As you can see, not much snow on the ground. The dump trucks were do busy hauling snow down from the mountains to pile on the streets so the dog teams had snow to get out of town.

These are the newest snow shoes available.  This guys showed us how strong this blow up plastic was.  He took a nail and jammed it into an inflated snowshoe and it didn't loose any air. It is very strong PVC or some kind of plastic. I am sure he told us but I was still investigating the nail hole and the lack of air loss. The advantage of these snow shoes is they collapse to a small pack and lightweight to carry.  Very cleaver. Just think, you might be looking at the newest snowshoe rigs of the future.

Here is a snow baby carriage.  The front wheel is flipped up but I noticed this family used the tilt method to get the carriage from place to place.

Here is David's and my matching summer outfits for around the pool.  I asked if the bra came in small cup sizes and they said, One size fits all.  Who are they kidding?  I guess they make the man's one size fits all as well so the ego isn't offended!


The jock strap is a deal $60 and the girls two piece is $120.  Want me to pick you up a matching set?

Another event before Running with the Reindeer is the Antique Snow Machine contest.  They have a three block track to race.  There is every kind of machine out there.  These are the oldest ones I was able to get photos of before the event. 

Then it is time for Running with the Reindeer. You are encouraged to dress up.  Once again, Alaska does every event with a costume.  The crazier the costume the more TV time you receive.  First, every one gathers at the far end of the street.  Then there are three herds to run - The Men, The Women and the Teams or Others.  That was us. Others - Herd 3.

Here Niki and I are with Beth's parents, getting ready to meander to the start line.  Gumby joined us at the start along with these other people.  I like the fish man.

These are some new recruits for the ARMY.  Doesn't it just figure?  They came dressed like this and had no idea what to expect.  We were told to be at the start line at 3:30 and the race would be 4:00.  Well, the race stuff, DJ talk, thanking of the sponsors, Singing of the National Anthem, Chit Chat about the minus 10 degrees and how many are from out of town, etc.  Needless to say, we stood around until 4:45.  They were frozen.  But fun to watch.

Then the DJ called all the men to the front to run the Man Herd.  The DJ called the front line, the Teeny Weeny Brigade, or the Shrinky Dinks Squad.  Did I mention how cold it was?

And of course, here are the stars of the race. This year the Reindeer were a bit feisty. They wanted to run not be lead to the start line. No person or Reindeer has ever been hurt in this event. It cost $25 and there had to be at least 200 people in each herd. That is a lot of money donated to the Army's Toys for Tots program.

Ready Set RUN!!!!!! Here comes the Reindeer. What really happens is the humans get an 8 second start and then they unleash the reindeer.  The Reindeer just want to get to the finish line to get their treats.  They forget they are going to be led back to the start to do it again 2 more times.

Here comes Herd 3!

So this was the end of a wonderfully amazing day. Helping Lance Mackey with his dogs and then Running with the Reindeer. In case you don't know who Lance Mackey is, it would be like helping Michael Jordan prepare for a basketball Championship game. Lance is a 4 time Yukon/Iditarod Champion trying to go for 5 wins. Unfortunately, many of the dogs in the Iditarod are sufferings from Kennel cough and being Dog Dropped back to Anchorage.  Lance is currently in 5th place but he only has 9 dogs.  Mitch Seavey, had to drop out because when he was cutting open the bale of hay for his dogs he almost sliced off his fingers on his hand.  Rick Swenson his continuing the race with a broken collar bone. He can't receive medical assistance so he created a  shoulder harness for two extra dog harnesses.  These sled dogs and mushers are incredible athletes.  I can't wait to get there on Wednesday and take photos as they cross the burl arches with frozen snow faces on both the dogs and mushers.  I will be working with the dogs teams and signing postcards and letters to the Iditarod and serve the mushers at the banquet.  I hope to take some great pictures there.  I want to remind you all that the Tsunami waves did not reach higher than 4 feet high in Dutch Harbor and Prince William Sound. Nothing in Anchorage.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the families in Japan.  Please be safe and keep dreaming big and don't forget to add one new thing to your bucket list this week. We have had 3 wonderful days of Northern Lights dancing across our skies . Spectacular is the only word I can use.

Hugs from the North.  Sheryl the Nanuq.