Goose Bay assembly caps ‘Run to Nome’

MAT-SU — While 2013 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog competitors Martin Buser and Matt Failor traveled all the way to Nome behind a team of dogs, students at Goose Bay Elementary ran the entire 1,112-mile distance.

Since Nancy Blake began teaching physical education at the school 13 years ago, she’s used the “Run to Nome” unit to introduce her students to the sport of running. But this is the first year the unit has wrapped up with a school-wide assembly focused on Alaska’s state sport, she said.

“You should see them run,” Blake said.

A chart on the gym’s wall measured the classes progress. Students ran one lap around the gym for every mile needed to reach Nome, she said.

Blake said it was neat to watch students find their pace and run as far as they could during the allotted time.

“They could only run for one song,” she said. “So they would try to get as many miles in as they could in one song.”

The assembly Wednesday was in celebration of all 519 students in grades kindergarten through second safely reaching Nome.

Students sat by classes in orderly lines on the gym floor March 27 while Buser and Failor talked about the gear they use to keep themselves and their dogs warm along the trail.

District spokeswoman Catherine Esary said most of the middle and elementary schools in the borough teach an Iditarod unit. At Larson Elementary, it’s Idita Math night. At Knik and Shaw it’s an IditaRead program.

Blake said the Run to Nome is fitting since Kink is the home of Iditarod founder Joe Redington Sr., and when the race started in Wasilla, the trail used to go right by the school.

“We had kids who grew up in Knik and didn’t know about the Iditarod,” she said.

It’s also fitting since Redington’s great granddaughter, Ellen, attends the school. Her dad is Iditarod veteran Ray Redington, son of Raymie and Barb Redington.

Blake said she’s happy to work in Alaska history, reading, math and other lessons into the unit, but the focus is still on running.

“PE is still about skills and fitness,” she said. “Any time I can add math into that, I’m glad to do that.”

Buser showed students the layers of protective gear he wears to endure the harsh and ever-changing trail conditions.

“We ran into some wet snow in Eagle,” Buser said. “We didn’t do too good in the second half because of trail conditions.”

Buser led much of the first half of this year’s race and many fans had hoped this would be the year that the four-time champ added a fifth trophy to his mantle.

But the real star of the show was a 4-year-old female sled dog named Ules that Failor brought to school to show students.

He showed students the coat, leg guards and booties that protect Ules along the trail. “Dog booties are like tennis shoes for dogs,” Failor said.

Students also had prepared questions for the Buser and Failor, which their teachers read for them.

One student asked what it feels like to win the Iditarod.

“Coming in first is really one of the most exciting feelings,” Buser said. “It’s like a million hugs. It’s a special feeling. If you’ve ever gotten there first you want to do it again. It’s kind of addictive.”

Another student asked Failor what racers do after they arrive at a checkpoint.

He said the first step is present the required gear to the checker — ax, sleeping bag, snow shoes and vet book — then you sign in and park your team. Next, all of the dogs have to have to be cared for, fed and watered.

“Then I go take care of myself — eat and take a nap,” he said.

Asked how they get the dogs to pull the sled, Failor and Buser said that process starts at birth.

“We train puppies from birth to be part of the team,” Buser said.

Contact managing editor Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.