HUMAN

Name: MARK NORDMAN
Age: 65 AS OF MARCH 4TH
Residence: DENALI PARK, ALASKA
Occupation: I WORK AS IDITAROD’S RACE DIRECTOR AND RACE MARSHAL.
Years involved with Iditarod: SINCE 1983
Iditarod Role: I WORK AS IDITAROD’S RACE DIRECTOR AND ALSO RACE MARSHAL. IT’S KIND OF SPLIT BETWEEN 2 DUTIES. I WORK FOR THEM ALL YEAR LONG AS A CONTRACT EMPLOYEE. AND THEN ONCE THE RACE STARTS, I ALSO HAVE THE RACE MARSHAL’S JOB.
Current Location: MCGRATH, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 6, 2019
Temperature: 28F / OUTDOORS

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

YOU KNOW, I’M ORIGINALLY FROM MINNESOTA AND I THINK I ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT THE WILDS OF ALASKA. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO RUN IN 1983. I’M HERE BECAUSE OF RURAL ALASKA. IT’S THE PEOPLE. MY BEST FRIENDS AREN’T IN SOUTH CENTRAL. I HAVE FRIENDS THERE FOR SURE, BUT MAINLY IT’S BECAUSE OF THE CONTACTS I HAVE OUT IN THE VILLAGES AND CHECKPOINTS BETWEEN ANCHORAGE AND NOME.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY. OF COURSE, I COMPLETED MY FIRST IDITAROD IN 1983. I’LL NEVER FORGET THAT. BUT I ALSO THINK JUST BEING INVOLVED WITH TRYING TO GET TEAMS SAFELY TO NOME UNDER THE RULES, OF COURSE.   BUT REALLY, JUST TRYING TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF IDITAROD. I’VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK RACES IN ARGENTINA, OVERSEAS, EUROPE, EVERYWHERE ELSE, BUT THIS IS WHERE MY HEART IS.

What do you know for sure?:

THAT MY ADULT LIFE HAS ALL BEEN BASED AROUND IDITAROD AND I WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.