Blake Freking and Iditarod Update

Hi, all. Rusty the Super Sleek Sled Dog here.

A friend stopped by our hu-dad’s office Thursday and asked him what he was going to do now that the Iditarod was over.  Over, our dad asked.  Our dad pointed out that the friend ran marathons on a regular basis.  Is the marathon over just because the first person crosses the finish line?  Nope.  So the Iditarod is not over yet either.

Congratulations to Blake Freking who completed the race yesterday in 11 days, 20 hours, 39 minutes and 11 seconds.  While Blake came in 42nd overall, he posted the fastest time in the history of the race for a team of pure bred Siberian Huskies.  What an awesome accomplishment.

Don't I look super sleek with my ears pinned back?

As of the time of this writing, a number of mushers were still on the trail.  One of the great honors of the race is the Red Lantern – the award given to the team that is the last to finish the race.  In our hyper-competitive world, many sports would label this the loser (or even everyone other than #1 the losers).  But the Red Lantern is an honor given to the last WINNER of the race.  Yes, an award in perseverance and we will celebrate the winner this year.  We look forward to finding out who that person is.

See, if I squint my eyes then everyone will think I am a super-cool mushing machine.

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21 Comments

  1. Sagira on March 21, 2010 at 10:27 am

    Congrats to Blake! 🙂

  2. norwood on March 21, 2010 at 9:22 am

    You look quite innocent with no ears.. I gotta try that one.

    norwood
    PS mom loves learning the history of the iditarod and about the racers from your posts.

  3. Emma Rose and The Duchess on March 20, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    Hi Rusty,

    (flirt, flirt) You are quite a handsome guy 🙂

    Kisses,
    Emma Rose

  4. Huffle Mawson on March 20, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    Rusty, you look very aerodynamic with your ears pinned back like that 🙂

  5. The Army of Four on March 20, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    You look really cool with your ears pinned back and all squinty like that! And very HANDSOME, too!
    Love,
    Ammy

  6. The OP Pack on March 20, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    Rusty – super sleek and today just gorgeous. Ciara says she could see herself falling for you anyday.

    Woos – Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

  7. Kira The BeaWoootiful on March 20, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    Wooos Rusty! Woo ARE a super sleek sled dog!
    -~puppy kisses~
    -Kira The BeaWootiful

  8. jansfunnyfarm on March 20, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    What a great way to look at it. Because, of course, they are all winners.

  9. Sammie on March 20, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    I love Rusty’s ear-back position too – furry sleek, indeed! Looking forward to see who is the last to win heheh! Thanks for all the updates Herd!
    Big Hugs xo
    Sammie

  10. Mogley G. Retriever on March 20, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    The Iditarod is a tribute to all dogs everywhere. When the going gets tough, the dogs get going! It takes a dog to pull a sled! When tougher races are run, the dogs will win them!

    Mogley G. Retriever

  11. Houndstooth on March 20, 2010 at 10:29 am

    We like the idea of The Red Lantern! We’ve had fun hearing about the race through you!

    Rusty, you do look like a super lean machine! You could sell kisses with that face! Wanna race?

    Bunny

  12. Stella on March 20, 2010 at 9:53 am

    Oh, Rusty, you are a super sleek bozo no matter what you do. I do love the ears pinned back though, makes me think you’ve done something naughty!

    I agree about the final winner in the Iditarod. What a grueling, exhausting trip that is. All the finishers deserve prizes!

    Kisses,
    Stella

  13. KB on March 20, 2010 at 9:52 am

    I agree about the red lantern going to the toughest of the tough – the ones who keep going when things aren’t at all easy for them. However, I used to do long stage races on a road bike, and I have to admit that the people at the back of the pack were fighting NOT to come in last… It became an extra race within the race.

    Oh Rusty – You are so much the sled dog!!!! And so handsome.

  14. achieve1dream on March 20, 2010 at 8:29 am

    That first picture of you is adorable Rusty!

    Storm

  15. the_Dogfather on March 20, 2010 at 4:22 am

    Yup, Rusty the super-cool mushing machine with Aerodynamic Ears! Wooohoooo!!

  16. Wild Dingo on March 20, 2010 at 2:41 am

    I love it when juno’s ears go back. Rusty looks awesome with his back too! hmm… Roo-roo and juno. i think they’d be cute together…

    and btw: I, myself have won a lantern rouge at a bike stage race or two and have the red lantern to prove it. it really is an HONOR to get it. especially in stage races where you served a purpose other than to win. (you kill yourself for your team and teammates.)

    my lantern rouge means more to me than my first place finishes.

  17. Khyra and Khousin Merdie on March 20, 2010 at 2:35 am

    To address Bricey The Magnificent’s khwestion, yes!

    I envision him in the sled letting the breeze blow bakhk his hairs…

    We might even have to pikhks bugs from his teeth since he’ll be smiling the entire 1059 miles – give or take a few!

    If Poodles khould do it, I KNOW Tervurens khan!

    H&K,
    A Friend

  18. Bricey on March 20, 2010 at 2:20 am

    Rusty,
    You look bright and shiny in the first pic. But different in the others. I think you may need a bath and a blow-out. Maybe a little massage too.

    Regarding your friend’s comment – “in tow”???? I’m going to assume that she meant that I’ll ride in style on the sled.

    Brice the Wonder Dog

  19. MAXDOG on March 20, 2010 at 2:20 am

    Heartiest congratulations to Blake Freking and the incredible dog athlete team!!! We are so looking forward to seeing who receives the red lantern! It is truly an incredible race and you continue to educate and inform us novice furfriends.

    On our own paths we live and learn. We applaud all those who reflect the traits (amongst others)of:…

    tenacity, endurance, encouragement, honesty, perserverence, humility, vision, wisdom, kindness, caring, uplifting and love!

    We love you!
    Lotsalicks
    MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

  20. Khyra & Khousin Merdie on March 20, 2010 at 1:21 am

    Make that Tervuren…sorry, Mom’s fingers got stukhk on the ‘e’ key!

  21. Khyra & Khousin Merdie on March 20, 2010 at 1:21 am

    Woo are THE super-khool mushing machine!

    Maybe all of us khan go together and be a team next year!

    Khan woo only imagine a team of Sibes with a Terveren in tow?

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra & Khousin Merdie
    PeeEssWoo: Khousin Merdie would stay here to watch The Doggy Nanny!

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