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Iditarod: People & Dogs against the ElementsBy KRISTEN STERNBERG | NIE Educational Consultant On March 5th, the Iditarod kicks off its 33rd year in Anchorage, Alaska. Through harsh terrain and icy climate, people will drive teams of sled-pulling dogs at an exhausting pace over the 1,150 mile race route. For perhaps nine days or more, the drivers, or mushers, will pit themselves and their dogs in a battle against the elements.
Competing in the Iditarod may require as much skill, talent and endurance as any great athletic sport, but unlike many races this one does not receive much national sports coverage. The winnings are also relatively small, as the Iditarod does not attract major advertising sponsors. While many other sporting events may bring their top competitors glory and riches, those who compete in the Iditarod are afforded only local fame. The winning musher will earn slightly over $70,000 as a reward for his or her months of training and days or weeks of grueling toil during the race. In contrast, winners of some other sporting events may be awarded millions of dollars. Why isn't the Iditarod race as popular, lucrative (money-making) or nationally celebrated, as, say, the Indy 500 or the World Series? The answers may lie in differences between the historical event and its modern form. Originally re-created to commemorate early 20th century heroes who risked their lives to bring life-saving medicine to sick children in Alaska, the modern event bears little resemblance to its primitive form. Because the medicine helped people who were dying from diphtheria, speed was and is still an important factor. However, the medicine those early heroes brought was passed from one carrier to another at designated checkpoints (much like a baton is passed in a relay race!) rather than transported by one musher and dog team for the entire length of the route. That means that no one person or dog team raced the whole way. In its present form, people drive themselves and their dogs to exhausting-sometimes deadly-limits to conquer the more than 1,000 mile Alaskan course between its start point, Anchorage, and its finale in Nome. In March, when the race is held, much of Alaska is still experiencing the blizzards, icy conditions and below-zero temperatures of a harsh, Arctic winter. Especially in these extreme conditions, athletes have to pay attention to their immediate physical condition. Racing for days or weeks at a time under those extremes is terribly demanding on the body. It is even more demanding on the dogs, which run at top speeds for long periods over frozen ground. People in favor (proponents) of the race maintain that the dogs used, typically breeds like Malamutes and Huskies, are specially trained to endure harsh conditions. Read one proponent's viewpoint - there's a description of how the dogs actually pull the sleds, and then you can scroll down to read the rules and the special section on dog welfare. Iditarod defenders cite that mushers are careful to keep their dogs happy and in peak physical shape, and that they provide them with good living conditions. Proponents also note that veterinarians are stationed at intervals along the route, for emergencies and to check the condition of every dog that passes through. On the other hand, argue many opponents, almost every race means the death of one or more dogs. If they're so healthy, and cared for and well monitored, why are they dying in such numbers? They tell of seeing dogs living under inhumane conditions, perhaps kept hungry, or on short chains or physically mistreated. And, opponents say, it's just not fair! If the dogs weren't forced to run, some maintain, they would certainly choose not to! Read what one student has to say about how sled dogs are treated. After checking out the two opposing views above, what's your opinion? How do you feel about this issue? Can you think of other sporting events that might cause a similar controversy? Try these fun activities using The News-Journal!
A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org. Check out these links to learn more The official web site of the Iditarod offers race updates, news about the mushers, trail info and much more. Check out the link to the Junior Iditarod to find out how teens are competing. The web site also supplies related links, where you can explore many other sites devoted to sled dogs and racing. Update your knowledge of Iditarod "jargon," or words specific to elements of the race, at Dogsled.com. Scholastic online offers current news, notes from the trail, and many related web pages. If you feel confident, you can even take a quiz about the Iditarod! Give yourself a pat on the back if you try the quiz. The Anchorage Daily News is a good source for information about the current Iditarod as well as about past races. This newspaper also provides find an excellent map and some neat pictures from previous races. Each Iditarod officially begins with a ceremony in downtown Anchorage. Look at a view of the starting point and check out some photos from previous races. Weather is an important factors in almost every aspect of the Iditarod. It affects the amount of food needed for the mushers and their dogs, and their visibility along the race, among other things. How many more ways can you think of that weather might influence this race? Check out the current weather conditions in Anchorage. Will today's weather forecast for that region help, or hinder, the racers? The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many newspapers in the U.S. and around the world. Visit the site and check out some of them to see if they have recently published any articles on this topic. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state or click on the "Internationals" button to choose a country. The Daytona Beach News-Journal NIE Program, published March 5, 2001. Updated March 4, 2005. |
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