HUMAN

Name: Sam Martin

Age: 29
Residence: Willow, Alaska
Occupation: Dog Musher & Tour Guide

First Year Ran Iditarod: First Year

How many years involved with Iditarod: 10 years

Iditarod Role: Musher, handler, volunteer

Current Location: Wild Birch Hotel, Iditarod HQ Anchorage

Date of Photo: March 5, 2026
Temperature: 68F, indoors

Question 1: What is it about running sled dogs that you love so much?

I first became involved with Iditarod in 2016, 2017. I worked for Matt Failor out in Juneau, Alaska at one of our dog camps that we were both a part of. And that’s just when I got bit by the bug. I met him. He introduced me to everything, and then that was 10 years ago, so here we are.

Question 2: What, who or how and when & why did you first get involved running the Iditarod?

 

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because this year will be my rookie race. It’s a big moment for me. It’s 10 years of patience. The dogs are ready, I’m as ready as I’m going to be, and we’re super excited.

Question 3:  Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences running the Iditarod.

 

One of my most memorable Iditarod experience was in the 2017 Iditarod during the ceremonial start. Me and Matt, we didn’t take a tag sled going down those 11 miles on the ceremonial, and he stood on one runner, I stood on one runner, and we had our Iditarider up front and doing those crazy 90 degree turns, and somehow we didn’t tip. So that was cool.

What in life do you know for sure?:

 

What I know for sure in life is it’s full of a lot of garbage, but as long as you’re patient, generally it tends to work out, and this is kind of proof of it for me.