Dee Dee Jonrowe

I just read a comment on this blog from Caroline R. (Thanks for checking in, Caroline!) I know she will be excited to read this. One of the best parts of coming to Iditarod Camp is meeting mushers who are famous. Dee Dee Jonrowe is probably the most famous of all women mushers competing in the race today. She came to the Dream a Dream Dog Farm just to talk to us and tell us about her life. She wanted to be a veterinarian, but ended up being a musher. Dee Dee has been in many Iditarod races. She has the fastest time record for any woman ever in the Iditarod, and has come in 2nd place three times in her career. Iditarod fans believed that she might win in 2007. She had one of her best dog teams ever. Unfortunately, she had a bad crash on her sled near Rainy Pass and had to scratch.
She stays in shape by competing in triathalons. Those are races where you have to run many miles, swim a long distance, and then run a bike for many miles. Dee Dee will start running her dogs again to prepare for the race in Septemeber when it starts to get colder here. I found out she doesn't just have sled dogs. She also has 3 friendly labs and 1 cute, furry pekinese which she brought with her.
We asked Dee Dee if she thought a woman would ever win the Iditarod again. She quickly and matter of factly said, "Yes!" It could be her turn to win this year, who knows? She also said that there are several other female mushers who are going to be tough competitors, too. Dee Dee had a great message for all of you, whether you are a girl or a boy. She believes that once you have a dream, you should work hard to make it come true. Do you have a dream? I hope you make yours come true!