Tonight was the night we've all been waiting for: The Iditarod Mushers Banquet. Traditionally held on the Thursday before the start of the race, the event was held in the Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. It was difficult for me to focus upon the meal itself because I was so starstruck by the mushers and the aura of excitement they exude. For my Hoosier students, this evening would be comparable to an evening spent with the drivers of the Indianapolis 500. Here in Alaska, though, it’s celebrity status with a family reunion feel. It was, indeed, a night for getting up close and personal with the mushers, many of whom chose to pose for photos and autograph items for their fans.
The primary purpose of the Mushers Banquet is to determine the mushers’ starting bib numbers. Called to the podium in the order they signed up for the race, the mushers pick their numbers out of a mukluk. Additionally, many of the Iditarod athletes used this venue to show his or her appreciation to family, sponsors, and, in some cases, causes near and dear to them.
Ryan Redington announced that he will be sharing his sled with Annika, a 10-year-old girl living with medulloblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumor. Similarly, Cindy Abbott, a musher that hosted teachers at Dream A Dream Dog Farm during the Iditarod Summer Camp for Educators, will be transporting the ashes of deceased teacher Susan Gardner to Nome. Gardner herself was a past attendee at the Iditarod Summer Camp for Educators, an Iditarod-themed professional development opportunity.
No Iditarod celebration would be complete without Hobo Jim serenading race fans with his Iditarod Trail Song. Listen if you dare. I can assure you, though, you will be carrying the "I did, I did, I did, the Iditarod Trail” ear worm around in your head for hours.