'o8 Iditarod

Earlier this week, Mark and I ate chinese food, and along with the food came a cookie for us each, of course! Mine gave me the prediction of doing something new this weekend... wonder what it could have been?

This morning was when I did the 'something new'. We attended the start of the 2008 Iditarod dog sled races! Here's a video, courtesy of yours truly. 

*enjoy my first blog-video. It took a while to figure out, so enjoy!

I thought they would shoot a gun and they all take off at once, biting and barking for first place, but it was much more relaxed, but still very interesting! They must have an listed order for who starts to run first. I was also surprised to see that they run with two sleds and three people. I suppose there is safety in numbers. As a side note, all the dogs had booties on! I heard that they have been doing this because it saves time of stopping every so often to get the ice out of the dogs' paws. 

No ice, less stops, more running = faster time. It was awesome! We were on the lesser crowded parts of the streets. Down were all the ice sculptures were, there were crowds and crowds of people. We walked down there and I had to hold my camera to take pictures just so I could see anything. The dogs were pulling so hard. I only could tell this when they would pass us and I was looking at them from behind; they would be leaning in the farthest-forward direction from where they had been tied to the team. They are good examples of loving their job. What extraordinary animals! Buckwheat needs to meet these dogs. He'd have some role models.