CAMP DENALI, Alaska - Two Alaska Army National Guardsmen finished as one of the top three teams in the 2010 Alaska National Guard Iron Dog, the world's longest and toughest snowmobile race Feb. 19-27.
Warrant Officer Rick Fleming and Staff Sgt. Elaine Jackson represented the Guard on the trail from Big Lake to Nome in the trail class portion of the race and were ready for the challenge.
"We put in more than 900 miles of training in various snow and visibility conditions," said Fleming. "I would have liked to have done a couple hundred more miles, but this is what we could do with our schedules."
Competing in a race that covers 1,000 miles across a landscape as unforgiving as Alaska can test your mental and physical strength no matter how hard you train.
"We were discouraged at times, with both of our sleds needing repairs, but our skills from our time in the Guard helped us along the way," said Fleming. "During combat basic training, I learned physical courage and stamina, so no matter how bad the conditions were situations were during the race, we had a mission to accomplish."
Fleming and Jackson knew they would meet hurdles during the race but weren't expecting the difficult situations they would have to overcome just to continue the race.
"I pushed my machine too hard during the Farewell Burn section, and my coolant system boiled over," said Fleming. "After the engine cooled I put in a liter of water and took off again but could only make it a mile or two before having to shut it down again."
It took longer than expected, but the pair finally made it to Nikolai, where Fleming was able to get coolant. However, the reservoir cap in his sled never sealed correctly after that incident, and he had to get more coolant at each checkpoint along the trail to Nome.
Jackson was dealing with challenges of her own on the trail too.
"We discovered the main support bracket holding the steering and front suspension together on my sled broke and both sway bar couplers snapped too," said Jackson. "In McGrath, we used some wire and a metal clothes hanger to hold the two pieces of the bracket together, and thankfully, that lasted all the way to Nome."
The pair met many more challenges to include track problems on Fleming's sled that caused more delays.
"Fourteen miles out of McGrath my sled started having other problems, so we stopped to investigate," said Fleming. "Both track tension bolts bent under the rear axle, and the track was too slack, so we had to limp it back to McGrath for repairs."
With no spare bolts, Fleming and Jackson had to rely on others for help.
After getting the sled fixed and losing four hours, they pair left McGrath for the second time and were in last place.
"We were discouraged and beat up, but over the next few days we pushed ourselves to make up time," said Jackson. "We met a lot of people in the communities along the way who were interested in the Guard, and they were eager to come out, see us and give advice on the trail ahead."
Each checkpoint along the trail welcomes Iron Dog racers and helps with food, fuel, refreshments and trail conditions up ahead. The Alaska Army National Guard has armories in many of these villages with past and present Guard members living in the communities.
"A lot of the villages we stopped in, the community members were there waiting for the National Guard team and came into town to see us and our National Guard shrink-wrapped snowmachines," said Jackson. "I had a lot of women give me hugs too because they heard I was out here competing."
After leaving McGrath in last place and pushing hard for the next two days, Fleming and Jackson managed to place third out of 14 teams in their class.
"We couldn't have accomplished this if it wasn't for all the people involved-our families, sponsors, leadership, the Alaska Army National Guard mobile event team, and all the people who believed and prayed for us along the trail," Fleming said. "Without their support, we wouldn't have been able to do this."
In 2011, Fleming plans to compete in the pro class event, which continues on from Nome to Fairbanks.
"After getting so beat up, I mentioned to Elaine that I really didn't think I'd ever race in the pro class, but after talking to some of the pro class racers, especially Chris Olds, this year's champion, I intend to race in the main event next year with the goal of surviving to Fairbanks."
The pro class travels nearly 2000 miles and out of 29 teams that started the 2010 Iron Dog, only 11 teams made it to the finish.
As for Jackson, when asked if she wants to compete again, she said "absolutely."
"It's not easy, but well worth it," said Jackson. "It was an awesome challenge, and I'd like to do it again."
Jackson was the first woman to make it to Nome since 2001, a true testament to her mental and physical toughness and training as an Alaska National Guard member.
Anyone who plans to race next year better start hitting the gym now, Fleming said.
"Work on your quads, upper back and shoulders," Fleming added. "You better work on your endurance training and plan on 1,000 training miles too. They don't bill this as 'the longest, toughest snowmobile race in the world' for nothing."
The Alaska National Guard was the lead sponsor for the 2010 Iron Dog, becoming presenting partner in October 2009 in order to support a uniquely Alaska event and bolster the Alaska National Guard throughout Alaska and the nation.