HUMAN

Name: Beverly Masek

Age: 62
Residence: Willow, Alaska

Occupation: Retired from State Representative

First Year Ran Iditarod: 1983

How Many Years Involved With Iditarod: 10+ years

Iditarod Role: Musher

Current Location: Willow Museum, Willow, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 7, 2026
Temperature: 68F, indoors

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

What I love about running sled dogs is being outside. It’s very quiet and peaceful, and the beautiful scenery, and seeing the dogs work.

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

 

I got involved running the Iditarod, because it used to go through my village, which is on the Yukon River. And we had several mushers that raced in the Iditarod back in the early days. And I wanted to run, because I knew I had to and I said, “I got to try it.”

 

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

 

My most memorable experience running the Iditarod is the year that I ran in 1990, when I beat Malcolm Vance by one second at the finish line.

What in life do you know for sure?:

 

What I know for sure in life is that by racing in the Iditarod really showed that I could possibly do about anything, because it’s a long race and you get to think a lot, and you’re alone by yourself a lot. And it really strengthened me and I love it.