I missed it!

So, a couple of days ago, Lance Mackey slid into Nome for the second year in a row!

Last Thursday I wore my Iditarod shirt in support of Dee Dee Johnrow - the one I stole from Linda that says "Alaska, Where Men are Men and Women Win the Iditarod" - but she came in 15th. In fact, I don't think a girl has actually won the race in over a decade.

But I'm happy that Lance won it. He seems like a nice guy.

It's been hard being so far away during the Iditarod. It's not a race that is exactly on the tip of every British tongue.

For the uninitiated, the Iditarod is a major sled dog race that happens in Alaska every year. It takes just under two weeks for the best mushers (sled dog drivers) to make it from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. There are prizes and checkpoints along the way.

The Iditarod happens at the end of the winter festival Fur Rondy, an annual event in Anchorage that includes a carnival, ice sculptures, outhouse races, and a chance to pull out those wolf-head hats that grace the closet of many an Alaskan.

It was also the first year they had this...

...and I'm so doing it next year. Or at least watching it.

Tyler (my brother) was in charge of the TV ad campaign for Fur Rondy and he made some really great commercials with local sports, entertainment, and political celebrities. You should check them out and then you can say you knew him when. He's in the commercials, too. Well, his voice is.

If you have the time, I'd encourage you to click here to see some real Alaskan athletes. (I think number 52 looks a little like Ryan Gosling)