by libby the lab » Thu Mar 07, 2024 7:16 pm
From Dallas" FB page:
Dallas Seavey's Iditarod Journey: Shock, Penalty, and the Last Great Race
In a twist of fate that sent shockwaves through the Iditarod community, Dallas Seavey's race took an unexpected turn following a harrowing encounter with a moose earlier in the competition. Amidst the chaos that ensued, Dallas's primary concern was the welfare of his injured dog, Faloo, who was rushed to emergency veterinary care upon their arrival at the Finger Lake checkpoint.
As Dallas pressed on along the trail, he received a critical call at Rainy Pass, where a veterinarian delivered sobering news about Faloo's condition. Despite the gravity of the situation, Dallas resolved that if there was a chance of survival, he wanted them to proceed with the operation, knowing full well the indomitable spirit of sled dogs.
However, with the fate of Faloo hanging in the balance, Dallas was forced to compartmentalize his emotions and focus on the task at hand – the race and the welfare of his remaining dogs on the trail. It wasn't until he reached Cripple to take his mandatory 24-hour rest that the full weight of the situation came crashing down upon him.
It was there that Dallas learned of the penalty levied against him for failing to adequately gut the moose while attending to Faloo's injuries. Reflecting on the tumultuous events that had transpired, Dallas acknowledged the shortcomings in his response, attributing them to the shock and urgency of the moment. Humbly, he admitted that in hindsight, there were things he could have done differently and expressed his belief that the Iditarod officials had made the right call, stating “the rules are the rules”. Dallas also suggested that there was more than one penalty in this first half of the race: First being stomped by a moose, next the loss of a dog on the team (thankfully now in recovery), third the lost time dealing with the situation on the trail, and lastly the time penalty of 2 hours.
Despite the setbacks and challenges he has faced along the trail, Dallas has remained steadfast in his commitment to his team and their shared journey. While these hurdles did seem to take some wind out of his sails, his response was one of humility, a profuse apology, and desire to turn his focus on the right things; his team. He suggested that maybe it was best to just run their race and not worry about where anyone else was…before then suggesting that maybe that wasn’t a great idea either.
Clearly still unsettled by all of the news and experience, we are cheering for Dallas and his team to stay resilient and dig deep for that determination, embodying the spirit of the Last Great Race on Earth