Iditarod

[vdub]

Our friend and fellow weggie, Cindy Abbott, is competing once again in the Iditarod (http://iditarod.com/). Cindy has limited Wegeners.

Some of the newer people on the forum may not know that Cindy has climbed a number of mountains to include Mt Everest and competed for the first time last year in the Iditarod. The Iditarod is an extremely tough test of athletic endurance and skill for the both the musher and the dog team. To even qualify to compete is quite an accomplishment.

I haven’t heard, but suspect Cindy will, once again, be carrying the Rare Disease flag with her on this trip. I’m sure she’ll let people know that most of us weggies can’t even walk to the post box, let alone compete in an athletic event. :rolleyes1:

BEST OF LUCK CINDY!

[ingemlb]

Wow that's promising. Good luck Cindy :) Will be very keen to find out how this goes. Will this be followed on any website?

[vdub]

Yes, you can follow here ---> Iditarod (http://iditarod.com/). As I have time, I will post stats, maps, etc, so we can follow Cindy. The kickoff from Anchorage is tomorrow, but that will only be ceremonial. They will then reposition the teams to Wasilla for the real start.

[ingemlb]

WOW looks amazing and very tough !!!

[mishb]

Good luck Cindy.......the race restarts tomorrow. I'm not sure what happened to the start today.

She will be carrying the flag again this year and hopes to make the finish line so that she can hold it up.

Best of wishes to you Cindy and please stay safe :hug1:

[woz]

Good luck Cindy, its great to see people with determination and passion.


Regards Woz,,,,,

[vdub]

Cindy is at finger lake.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Iditarod_Trail_BLM_map.jpg

[vdub]

It appears that Cindy is out of the race...
Current Race Standings - 2014 Iditarod - Iditarod (http://iditarod.com/race/2014/standings/)

[pberggren1]

Oh no. Poor Cindy. She has done a lot to raise awareness, that's for sure. I hope she is okay.

[ingemlb]

SORRY to hear :(

[mishb]

There hasn't been anything put up yet on her fb page.

I hope everything is okay and that she hasn't been hurt. :crying:

You make us proud Cindy - Good job :thumbsup:

[annekat]

I'm so sad to hear that something has gone wrong. How very disappointing for her and all of us. I hope to goodness that she is OK, and many thanks to her for making the effort.

[HopeinTN]

http://d3r6t1k4mqz5i.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Press-ReleaseGalleaScratch3-3-2014.pdf

She is so tough and I can't imagine how hard thsi is on her body.

[vdub]

I'm hearing that weather has played a big part in those who have had to scratch. The scratch rate is way higher than I have seen in past Iditarod's. Word I have is that its due to a lack of snow and the sleds are getting pretty beat up. Even some seasoned veterans have had to scratch.

[renidrag]

That is too bad, she trains relentlessly from what I have read. Must be a devastating let down. Proud of you Cindy.
Dale

[annekat]

http://d3r6t1k4mqz5i.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Press-ReleaseGalleaScratch3-3-2014.pdf

She is so tough and I can't imagine how hard thsi is on her body. Is that not a different Cindy that you posted the link about? Ours has the last name of Abbott and I think is from California. Of course, both of these Cindy's could have scratched.

[vdub]

Cindy Abbott from Fullerton, CA is the musher.

[mishb]

Someone on fb mentioned that she could have injury her shoulder. :crying:

I hope not - I hope it is just the weather like vdub said.

Prayer that you are safe Cindy

[drz]

Both Cindy's have scratched according to web page link. Cindy Abbott had the second slowest time of those who scratched. Cindy Gallea had a very fast time but scratched due to her illness.

[annekat]

Both Cindy's have scratched according to web page link. Cindy Abbott had the second slowest time of those who scratched. Cindy Gallea had a very fast time but scratched due to her illness. Thanks, drz. It's sad that either of them had to scratch, or any of the others who did so. But I guess this must happen every race. To put out so much effort toward this and then have to scratch must be heartbreaking and extremely disappointing.

[drz]

I found this info but don't know if she was one of those injured from the lack of snow Tuesday:

" The Iditarod Trail exacted a terrible toll on Tuesday.Nine mushers officially left the race, many with bruised bodies and broken sleds. The group included two who finished in last year's top 10 and another who had never scratched in 16 previous races
Willow's DeeDee Jonrowe, Big Lake's Jake Berkowitz and Chugiak's Jim Lanier were among those calling it quits. Last year, Jonrowe and Berkowitz placed 10th and eighth, respectively, and Lanier reached Nome for the 16th time in as many tries.
Also scratching Tuesday: Linwood Fiedler of Willow, Mike Santos of Cantwell, Gus Guenther of Clam Gulch, Jan Steves of Edmonds, Wash., and Cindy Abbott of Irvine, Calif."

Read more here: Toll climbs in Iditarod -- 10 knocked out of race on Tuesday | Iditarod Sled Dog Race | ADN.com (http://www.adn.com/2014/03/04/3357237/lanier-jonrowe-among-several-mushers.html#storylink=cpy)

http://www.adn.com/2014/03/05/3358458/meet-the-sled-dogs-mcleod.html

[drz]

More about her "Awesomeness"

Setbacks don't stop Iditarod musher Abbott from chasing dream | Iditarod Sled Dog Race | ADN.com (http://www.adn.com/2014/03/03/3355818/setbacks-dont-stop-iditarod-rookie.html)

More insight about her too:

"Cindy Abbott of California, who wore a snowboarding helmet for the ceremonial start, understands the risks that come with participating in extreme sports. She's an avid mountain climber who once summited Mount Everest.An Iditarod rookie, this 55-year-old professor said she wouldn't think twice about wearing a helmet while traversing a mountain peak.
"In mountain climbing, you would never consider going up a mountain without a helmet on," she said. "Did I ever get hit with anything? No. Did I always have a helmet on? Yes."

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/03/01/3353016/iditarod-notebook-dogs-get-a-blessing.html#storylink=cpy