HUMAN
Name: ANNA BONDARENKO
Age: 60
Residence: CHUGIAK, ALASKA
Occupation: TEACHER
Years involved with Iditarod: SINCE 1982
Iditarod Role: MUSHER
Current Location: IDITAROD HEADQUARTERS
Date of Photo: SATURDAY JUNE 29, 2024 DURING IDITAROD PICNIC
Temperature: 71F
What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?:
I got involved in Iditarod the first time I met Jim Lanier. He took me on the first ride, and we had two old lead dogs. And the rest of that history, they both were white. So now we have Northern Whites Kennel. And for first eight years I was scooping the poop, taking care of the dogs, raising puppies, playing with them. I never wanted to race. It was not kind of my cup of the tea. Until in 2000, year of the 1999, after his race, I was sitting and reading newspaper in a toilet. That’s where you have the best, the ideas coming. And I have read this quote by Snow. It said, “If you had an opportunity to run Iditarod or race in a big sled dog race, and you never took this opportunity, you will regret it for the rest of your life.” And that was it.
It was like, “Okay, that’s time for me to race.” I sign up right away. I started training since he was, in March when he came back from his race. And I did not stop until I ran. And I finished the first Iditarod in 2000 as the first Russian woman in the Last Great Race.
What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?
I’m still involved in Iditarod because it’s a lifestyle. It’s not a choice. I mean, we have this wonderful, beautiful dogs and we bred, and they are terrific athletes. They love to run, and that’s the longest and most challenging race, not only in Alaska, but in the world. So it’s like a highlight of the training. That’s a goal for Jim. He still takes care of the dogs. We all as a family run and take care of them. And we always have young people, junior Iditarod mushers that run our dogs. The people that we train, and they’ll participate in the race every year. Starting with Nick Petit and Larry Daugherty, just to mention a few. And this year we have Mike Parker. It’s a lifestyle.
Tell me about your most memorable Iditarod experiences?:
One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences in two Iditarods that I ran was my first one. Well, for one thing that was I was very dedicated. I am very competitive. I train dogs really fast. I was set to win the race. Just my mentality, go all the way. And then boom, going for the Happy River Steps, I crashed into the, actually got stuck because there were so many snow that the sled did not fit in because I started in 53rd position. And one like a field waiting that year was a lot of mushers. So it was rotten. And my sled got stuck, and I hit my hand on the handlebar between the handlebar and a rock. So I broke my hand. And after that I made it to Rainy Pass, and I sat there. I am thinking that’s it. I mean, I’m done. What can I do?
And I was really terrified with going down Dalzell Gorge with a broken hand. But I kind of pulled it together. I changed my mentality, it’s okay. Now my goal is I just want to finish, and I want to do my best and just enjoy the trip. And it was, I mean, I was amazed how many wonderful mushers that the spirit of friendship and the camaraderie, the helping each other on the trail. Like James Wheeler who pulled me off that jam in the Happy River. That he stopped by and literally used the axe to got my sled out without losing the team. And then I pushed on, and I was halfway through in Cripple. My hand was so swollen, I never took my glove off because I didn’t want to even see that. And then I walked in the vet tent because there’s no doctors, and you don’t sleep. So you’re sleep-deprived, so you can fall asleep anywhere you have a second.
And I woke up with the cast on my hand, and they said, “Well, we took care of your hand. We put a little cast so you should be able to go on.” And I walked out, and I look at my cast, and I cannot do anything with that. I cannot take care of the dogs. So I thought, “Oh, that was so sweet of them. It was so kind.” And I ripped it off and put my glove back on, and went on and finished the race. But that was the best experience having all of these people looking after each other. And I thought that was the best of Iditarod. That spirit among mushers helping each other and other volunteers and everybody.
What do you know for sure?:
What I know for sure in life is the most important thing is love and kindness. And those little simple things that human. Everything else, it doesn’t matter. So as long as you’re surrounded that the people you love, your family, your friends, your dogs that are loving you unconditionally, the life is worth living.