Iditarod 2021Start

The Iditarod 1,000 Mile race starts today!

But before Ryne goes flying over the start line behind her incredible team, the microchips of all the dogs are checked and urine samples are collected. Microchips are tiny computer chips, the size of a rice grain, that go underneath the dog’s skin around the neck or shoulder area. Each chip has a unique identification number. The Iditarod uses this to keep track of dogs and especially to make sure drop-dogs get returned to the correct owner.

If you’re following along, then you met the final team yesterday and read Ryne’s thoughts on the individual team members.

Now, here’s the line up for the race start! Dolly and King Louie are the first leading pair of this adventure… and they’re as excited as the rest of the team to reach the start chute.

I’m sure time is a weird concept this morning; dragging out with the ready-to-race-already urge while simultaneously flying by with the constant to-do tasks and last minute touches here and there. But time doesn’t stop and the team enters the chute, waiting for the countdown to reach zero.

The energy stays as they officially take off; the harness-banging and loud barks turning into the serious “game face” mode.

”There goes bib number fourteen, Ryne Olson…”

Good luck, Ryne!!! And good luck to Dolly, King Louie, Goblin, Thresher, Etta, Smoky, Oryx, Wingman, Faff, Maple, Mario, Bowser, Uno and Yoshi!!!

Stay tuned for more blog posts and updates of the team’s progress throughout the race.