Di* wrote::D WOW
LANCE MACKEY!!!!!!!!!
How cool is that?! Thanks so much Lance for being on our forum! You've made a lot of armchair mushers real happy!
I lost my mom to cancer in '01 so when you fought back from that and started racing again that really got my attention. I couldn't imagine how you could come back from such a physical ordeal and rise to the top totally reinventing the way people look at race strategy! Did your dogs teach you or did you get some divine inspiration on how to do this?
I just finished watching the ITC's "Deja Vu" '08 race coverage and Jeff King's last line sticks with me "he(Lance) is to dog mushing what mozart is to music...he's gifted. It's hard not to be also in awe of his gift." It had to feel great to hear that from Jeff
Is there anything left to prove for you? Are you content with your race strategy or is that always evolving & changing?
Thanks for your reply!
I'm very sorry to hear about your mom. Cancer is an unfair disease.
There were some very tough times for me but cancer also made me realize how short life is and what's really important. Everyday I challenge myself. I really have the best job in the world. How many people can say "I love what I do?" Cancer, in a way taught me to savor life and not let the little things get in my way or drag me down. My dogs helped me through some tough times, absolutely, I don't know what I would have done without them, I do connect with them...we work as a TEAM, we are a TEAM.
Jeff and I are competitors while racing but at the same time I respect and admire him. Hearing him say that meant a great deal.
Looking ahead...I don't have anything to prove, but I do want to continue to improve and do my best as long as I am able to run dogs.
Of course the sport is always evolving, but some of the old ways still work, and I still use them, I am still using gear my dad used and I still have his line of dogs in my team.
I like to mix it up on the trail, try new things, analyze things, step up to the edge and see what's out there.