My day downtown watching the start of the Iditarod. (Well sort of.)

I took a little time away from the computer to spend the afternoon downtown watching the "only for the cameras" start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.  The real start will be tomorrow in Willow, but since Anchorage is the biggest city and we are all too lazy to drive out to Willow, they put on a little show just for us right on Fourth Avenue. Aren't we spoiled?

I didn't bother to take my own camera since I knew that Dennis Zaki would have his, and that he would take much better pictures than I ever could, and that he would gladly share them with all of you.  And so he did.

Perennial favorite DeeDee Jonrowe.

 I cannot tell which hat is the more ridiculous.

I love receiving puppies in the mail!

(Just kidding this is how they transport the dogs.)

Returning champion Lance Mackey was there with the same great team he had last year .

Here is Lance Mackey's team taking off like a rocket down 4th Avenue. Lance is the crowd favorite to win it again this year which would make five consecutive wins in a row.

Martin Buser was also a crowd favorite. (Those of you from out of state might remember him from his brief appearance on Palin's reality show.  Though I am sure he would rather people not remember him for that.)

Colorful characters abound during the Fur Rondy celebrations.

You know despite what people may think of Alaska, it really is only acceptable to wear road kill on your head during Rondy.

Oh.  Well I guess I stand corrected then don't I?

Let's take a break from our usual topics to enjoy a uniquely Alaskan experience.

Here are some pictures that my friend Dennis Zaki sent me to shae with all of you.

These are from the Fur Rondy Sled Dog Races.

You literally NEVER see these dogs happier than when they are pulling a sled.  It is literally in their DNA.

And here is  video that Dennis made as well.

Thanks Dennis.

Only in Anchorage, Alaska. The famous "Running of the Reindeer".

Like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, the Anchorage event has hoofed, horned animals chasing a festive mob of people. Unlike Pamplona, the Anchorage runners got to pet and hug their docile pursuers as they picked up their bibs prior to race time.

Another difference is the snow -- which didn't seem to bother upwards of 2,000 runners who clogged Fourth Avenue for the bizarre one-block race.

Zany costumes abounded. The giant butterfly costumes from the Ski for Women earlier this month were back, though not necessarily the same women wearing them. There were Vikings, a purple moose, a creature from "Where the Wild Things Are," a guy wearing a whole polar bear hide and, appropriately, a team of butchers.

Yes we have some odd celebrations and events in the Great Land. From the Cordova Ice Worm Festival, to the famous Fur Rondy celebrations going on now in Anchorage, to the craziest most dangerous race in the world, the Iditarod. Now add to that list the uniquely Alaskan Running of the Reindeer.

Hey its cold, we're bored, what would you do?

Have you ever wanted to see an event like this from the animal's perspective? Well now you can.


Wouldn't you like to see a reindeer catch one of these participants and exact a little revenge for all of that rendeer sausage they eat?