view issue - Adventure World Magazine

tube at the time, and couldn’t keepmy liquid food thawed.” Here’sa guy who amazed this journalistby simply attempting this amazingfeat. Yet, for him it was a majordisappointment. “It was the lowestmoment in my life. I had disappointedso many people.” Hisfamily and his sponsors were paramountto him. Not your $5000sponsors mind you. “I was getting$500 sponsors at this time.” Theamount was not the important partof this to Lance. It was the faiththey had put in him. By the way,several of those sponsors evendropped him after that race.When asked about being an inspirationto others (particularly cancersurvivors); Again, his humbleand hardworking persona shinesthrough and he sees nothing tooremarkable about his accomplishment.“I find it odd,” he said, “Ithink I did what most people woulddo. I had a dog team, a wife and afamily counting on me.” However,Mackey still realizes the gravity ofthe situation he survived “I don’tthink anyone who deals with whatI dealt with can help but be gratefulfor tomorrow and thankful fortoday.”So, 2003 rolls around and moneybecomes an issue and keeps himfrom competing. In 2004, he andhis brother, Jason make top 30 finishesand get a much needed boost.2005 had even more in store forthis athlete. I asked if ever he wasadvised to give this whole racingthing a rest, his doctors thought ofthis too. “Don’t tell me I can’t dosomething.” is all he said. Thatsomething in Mackey’s mind was tobe the first person to run the Yukonand Iditarod back to back. That’sexactly what he did. He was the2005 Yukon champ and got a top 7finish in the Iditarod. That was thefirst chapter to a very successfulracing career for Lance Mackey.To put this in perspective, he is theonly musher to win the over 1000mile races back to back. He did itnot once but twice.He won the Yukon in 2005, 2006,2007, and 2008. He gives all ofcredit to his “team”. He attributeshis success to his dogs and the supportof his family. “The dogs arethe #1 reason we are out there,”he said: The relationship with yourdogs is crucial. I have 100 dogsand treat them all like family. Somemushers are too serious and are inthis just as a business. I don’t dothat.”Mackey says the secret to his successis quite simple. Dedication! “Iam out there with my dogs 99% ofthe time,” said Mackey. It is a connectionhe has cultivated with hisdogs and is certainly proud of it.“We put our heart and souls intothis,” he said, “My wife is thebackbone of Team Mackey.”Then there are the furry familymembers. And, I quickly learn that“Larry” is a big part of this familyaffair. He is also known as the“lead dog” around the Mackeyclan.“You hope to find them once in alifetime, said Mackey,”I didn’t realizewhat I had with Larry untilI had had him a couple of years.”Larry is nine years old and thiswas his last year to race. By theway, he did finish the race this year.“A few parts of the race we went atLarry speed. But, our crew is notwimpy,” said Mackey.The dogs even get to take a summerbreak. “I let them lay aroundall summer, from the first week ofApril to the first week of August,”said Mackey. Mackey also saysthey are like any athlete and needto heal. But I had to ask, just howdo you train dogs in August withno snow? I found out quickly thatmushers are a resourceful breed. “Ihook them up to ATVs and run ondirt trails to build their muscles,”added Mackey.But back to the race… In 2009,after 9 days, 21 hours, 38 minutesand 46 seconds… Lance Mackeyclaimed his 3rd Iditarod title. Itstill gives Lance a boost to hear theexcitement in his Dad’s voice aftera race. “After my third win, mydad was in disbelief,” said Mackey.He knew his son had joined anelite few. Dick Mackey now lives inArizona. “He was the first personI talked to this year,” said Mackey,“I tear up thinking about him.”The race and the gear have certainlychanged since his dad wonthe Iditarod back in 1978. “Sledsand gear have very much improvedsince the 70’s,” he said, “My dadhad a military sleeping bag weighing20 lbs. Mine is 3-1/2 lbs. And,there were very few dog food companiesthen.” Lance recalls a storyfrom his dad about the time he gotstuck in a snow storm. He sayshis dad had to hunt for moose justto feed the dogs. In comparison,Lance and other mushers now sendout 2500 pounds of gear and foodto check points weeks ahead of therace.One other thing Mackey Sr. didn’thave, Lance’s “must have” piece ofgear - his iPod! “Its quiet and desolateout there,” he said, “it helpsAdventure World Magazine is a GreenZine 11