CAMP DENALI, Alaska - Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Harry Alexie crossed the burled arch in Nome on March 21 at 4:40 a.m., to finish the 2009 Iditarod with 10 of his 16 dogs.
Alexie finished the more than 1,100-mile long race in 12 days, 14 hours and 40 seconds, putting him in 37th place out of 52 finishers. He won the ExxonMobil 37th Iditarod Award, which is a gold coin valued at $2,500.
"We are absolutely pleased with Staff Sgt. Alexie's performance in the Iditarod," said Lt. Col. Joseph Lawendowski, Alaska Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention commander.
"For anyone to finish a race with a team of dogs requiring constant care in extreme weather for more than 1,000 miles it's an awesome accomplishment. His final standing exceeded our expectations."
As a rookie Iditarod sled dog racer, Alexie is elated about his finish and considers the experience a personal victory.
"To me it was a once in a lifetime experience, and I'm proud to say that I finished," Alexie said. "Anything I start I must finish is what I tell myself. I found along the way a determination and a willpower that I didn't know I had."
"The Last Great Race on Earth" is a test of endurance, personal courage and mental acuity, and it did not go without its struggles for Alexie, who often found himself pushing the boundaries of his own limits.
"It was tough," Alexie said. "We started in mild temperatures, but once we hit the Yukon River we started facing head winds from the north for about 130 miles. At that point, I felt like turning around, but I knew I was representing the Alaska Army National Guard and myself, and if I quit, all the training would mean nothing."
To prepare for the epic race, Alexie trained with Lance Mackey, who won this year's race.
"The training definitely helped Alexie," Lawendowski said. "But, this guy's got a lot of heart, and I think his determination and effort is what pulled him through."