HUMAN

Name: KRISTIN BACON
Age: 45
Residence: BIG LAKE, ALASKA
Occupation: PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST.
Years involved with Iditarod: MY FIRST VOLUNTEER JOB WAS IN 2005. AND I’VE RUN THE RACE. THIS IS MY 3RD ONE.
Iditarod Role: DOG MUSHER
Current Location: TAKOTNA, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 7, 2019
Temperature: 24F / OUTDOORS

What is your Why?.. Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?:

IT’S SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM MY SOUL. I GREW UP IN OHIO. I DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SLED DOGS OR DOG MUSHING UNTIL I MOVED TO ALASKA. AND ONE DAY IT CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH AFTER I HAD GOTTEN A LITTLE INVOLVED. I HAD NEVER DRIVEN A SLED. AND IT CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH; “I WANT TO RUN IDITAROD SOME DAY.” I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT I WAS SAYING.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

I THINK PROBABLY FINISHING THE FIRST TIME. IT WAS A LONG-CHASED DREAM. AND I HAD TOLD MYSELF FOR YEARS, “YOU DON’T REALLY NEED TO DO THAT. IT’S NOT A RESPONSIBLE – IT’S NOT A FINANCIALLY – REALLY VERY FEASIBLE THING. YOU HAVE A CAREER. YOU DON’T NEED TO DO THAT.” ONCE I HAD THE LITTER AND TRAINED AND GOT THERE, AND FINISHING THE FIRST TIME IN NOME, I WAS JUST GIDDY. MY FAMILY — MY FRIENDS WERE THERE, MY SISTER WAS THERE. IT WAS JUST VERY SPECIAL. THE DOGS DID PHENOMENAL. IT WAS GREAT.

What do you know for sure?:

THAT WE’RE STRONGER AND MORE CAPABLE THAN WE CAN EVER IMAGINE.