19 March 2017

Iditarod Postscript: The Final Musher

Musher Cindy Abbott finished her second Iditarod race Saturday, reclaiming the Red Lantern award that goes to the last musher to the finish line in Nome.

One of Iditarod musher Cindy Abbott’s team dogs moves out from under straw she just covered it with in the village of Tanana during the 2017 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 8, 2017. (Bob Hallinen / Alaska Dispatch News)

Abbott and her dog team finished the 1,000-mile race in 12 days, 2 hours, 57 minutes and 31 seconds. That was four days slower than the record-setting pace set by three-time winner Mitch Seavey, who finished the run from Fairbanks to Nome in 8 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes.

... Abbott first won the Red Lantern in 2015. The Iditarod Trail Committee called the annual award "a symbol of perseverance" in a statement Saturday. It will be presented to Abbott in Nome on Sunday during the Iditarod awards banquet.

8 comments:

hobo said...

Better late than never. :-)

Rev. Paul said...

Somebody has to be last, right? Most mushers who lag that far behind are determined not to be there again, but - on the other hand - there are too many variables in a thousand-mile race. :)

Old NFO said...

She finished. Kudos to her for not giving up!

Rev. Paul said...

Exactly! Thank you.

LindaG said...

That is a good reason for a trophy. Glad they were still there to count her time!
Better luck to her next time.

Rev. Paul said...

The finish line in Nome is a week-long event, with the few available rooms booked years in advance. They celebrate every single musher who get there, and it doesn't stop until a day or two after the last one arrives.

Toirdhealbheach Beucail said...

I like that they do that. Just reaching the point that you can race at all is an accomplishment.

Rev. Paul said...

I agree, sir. It's a HUGE achievement.