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Gone To The DogsBy Amanda JonesFor more than 30 years, “13” hasproved to be a rather lucky numberfor one Alaskan family. In 1978,Dick Mackey won the Iditarod onhis 6th try wearing bib number13. Then in 1983, son Rick takesthe title back for the Mackey familyon his 6th try wearing bib number13. Flash forward 24 years, littlebrother Lance becomes the kingof the Mackey family and the Iditarod,you guessed it on his 6th trywearing bib #13! That year, Lancewon his first of three straight Iditarodtitles. The road to the winner’scircle was not an easy onefor Lance. Though it might soundlike mushing is in his blood, he stillovercame unbelievable odds to notonly join the ranks of his father andbrother, but to surpass them. TheIditarod has been called one ofthe ‘last great races on earth’. Itis over 1150 miles of the most gorgeousand treacherous terrain onecould imagine. It starts in Anchorage,AK and ends in Nome.Native Alaskan, Lance Mackey,now calls Fairbanks, AK home.The 38-year-old father and athleteis now a fulltime musher and ownsComeback Kennels with his family.His career in mushing got off to aslow start. In fact, he didn’t evenrealize mushing was a dream forhim. “I grew up around dogs, butmy dad always left me the bottomof the barrel racing dogs,” saidLance, “it was his way of teachingme and my brother Jason responsibility.”As a teen, the highlight of Mackey’sracing career was a 4th place finishin the Jr. Iditarod. By the timehe was 18, Mackey had gone from140 dogs to none. He even becamea commercial fisherman for a time.After marrying and becoming a fatherto his wife’s three small children,he ended up with 10 dogs beforehe knew it. Mackey just wasn’tsure the title of IDIT champ wasin the cards for him. The 10 dogshe had accumulated were actuallyused to have fun with the kids.“The only racing they were doingwas up and down our driveway,”said Mackey. Then the mushingbug bit again. “I think the feverhad always been there. I was soproud of my dad and brother, theywere legends, I was always braggingabout them”In 2001, he couldn’t resist thetemptation of the ultimate race anylonger. He ran the race with borrowedand “left over” dogs. “Ijust wanted a belt buckle for completingthe race, only 600 peoplein the world have them,” he said.He finished 36 out of 58. But then,he realized if he had finished only6 places higher, he would havealso gotten a portion of the “racepurse.” He also wanted to makehis family proud.Mackey had a long and trying roadstill ahead of him on his journey tobeing an Iditarod champ. In 2002,Mackey was diagnosed with throatcancer. He had surgery that Apriland then the radiation and recoveryprocess began. As I listenedto Mackey’s recount of that tryingyear I was shocked to hear thathe actually raced in 2002. Manywould consider just making it tothe starting line an accomplishment.But not Mackey, the competitivespirit that had made the othermen in his family so successful wasalive in him too. He had to pull outin the middle of the race, but notfor the reason many would expect.It wasn’t fatigue or lack of motivation.“I almost starved to death,”he said, “I was still on a feedingPhotos courtesy of Kevin SpreekmeesterAdventure World Magazine May 2009 10