Physical vs. Mental

Mushers have their own opinions on whether the Iditarod Sled Dog Race is more a physical or mental sport. Bill Vaudrin recalls what he believes the Iditarod stands for. He says, “This is the Iditarod: unspeakable beauty, mixed with very real pain. It’s also life, in a nutshell. It’s how it is, and always will be—probably, even, how it should be. Pleasure unearned is pleasure unappreciated. It’s the things we work for, suffer for, that give us lasting satisfaction.” Frostbite is very common in mushers on the trail for 8-14 days straight in the extreme temperatures. Many may suffer broken bones or illness. A lack of sleep often leads to hallucinations (Vaudrin 31). Getting lost is inevitable; however the idea is to not get lost for too long (Roberson).