MARCH 21st More news about ALIY ZIRKLE

 MARCH 21st  More news about ALIY ZIRKLE and few tidbits about the race stats.

351 sled dogs crossed the finish line

36 teams

10 women finished

26 men finished

MARTIN BUSER finished his 38th race. 19 finishes were in the top 10.

Those wondering about ALIY ZIRKLE: ALIY crashed her dog sled 5 miles out of ROHN. It happened on an icy section of the trail just past DALZELL GORGE. Her sled flipped and she remembered the impact to her head. She saw black and had severe pain on her right arm and shoulder. ANN BERRINGTON was right behind her but she didn't think she saw her crash. All she remembered is she had to get back to ROHN. She couldn't use her arm and began vomiting. Reaching ROHN the Doctors immediately took care of her and her dogs. She remembered hearing a haze of doctors talking about medication and that a helicopter was coming for her. She was taken to Providence Hospital in Anchorage where her husband, Allen, came quickly. She was drugged and dazed for about 48 hours. They said the head injury was more of a concern than the arm and shoulder. No surgery was needed. She was sent home to recover. As of the end of race time, she hadn't been outside as the head injury didn't react well to light and sound. She was not on her computer or phone so Allen recited the IDITAROD play by play. She did have to look at DALLAS and AARON coming in though. 

It can be a dangerous sport. Perhaps helmets should be worn. That may be something to discuss for the coming years. 

Wishing ALIY a speedy recovery and a time to get back to her dogs.