/ 2008 Archived Material / Advice From Mushers

Target Iditarod Teacher on the Trail^™ Advice From Mushers

by Jane Blaile

 

Did you ever have to quit or drop out of something?  It was probably a hard decision, but you knew it was what you had to do.  And maybe it was disappointing - you'd worked hard and gave your best, but you just couldn't do it...YET.  Think about the mushers who've scratched.  You know they have worked and prepared to go for it; you know they wanted to finish; you know they definitely didn't want to scratch, but they did.  Why? The Iditarod is a living, breathing thing.  No one knows when they go out there what will happen.  Each day is different - the weather, how the dogs feel, how the musher feels, how the trail is....and on and on.

 

In Unalakleet, I talked to 2 mushers who had to scratch - Ryan Redington and Peter Bartlett.  I told them my message of "Live Your Dreams" and asked them what they would say to people who want to live their dreams.

 

Ryan, in his quiet, understated way said, "Keep at it."  Now, that isn't a long speech, but it tells it all.  Keep at it.

 

Peter Bartlett added a dimension to it.  He said that if it is something you know you want and have in your heart, you should go for it and not listen to people who tell you differently.  Go for it.

 

Think about a dream of yours, right now.  Keep at it!  Go for it!