2018 was going to be her last Iditarod anyways, but DeeDee decided it was time to bow our gracefully today in Rainy Pass. She says it was time, and she seemed calm and clear in her decision. She was struggling to continue this race, and for the safety of her dogs, she called it quits.
This 64 year old woman is AMAZING...and I was lucky enough to meet her in 2015. When I got to speak with her I said "I was a fan of yours when you were powder blue.....but I think you are pretty in pink". DeeDee, a breast cancer survivor, changed her signature color from powder blue to pink after she survived breast cancer in 2002. When I said this she smiled and thanked me for my support and admiration. Latter that year, DeeDee lost her entire kennel in the Sockeye Fire....she did save the dogs, but everything else burned to the ground. Then shortly after the fire her Mother died from her long battle with cancer. DeeDee ran the 2016 and 2017 Iditarods, but this 2018 was to be her last.
DeeDee has finished the Iditarod 32 times, with 16 top ten finishes! She came in 2nd twice...once in 1993 and again in 1998. From 1988 to 1998, for a full decade she finished every race in the top ten. That was DeeDee in her prime!
She is truly happy to start her new life away from competitive Mushing....but she will always compete in something.....training dogs in canine agility, running with her dogs in canicross, dry land mushing and bike joring with her dogs. DeeDee in a way is just getting started....again!
We wish you well DeeDee....I'm sure you will enjoy this new trail of adventures!
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