When gatt won three Yuokn Quests in a row (2002 to 2004), many thought this record would be long to be beaten. But right after it Lanc Mackey won it 4 times in a row (2005 to 2008). this would have been enough to make history.

In the mushhing world, many thought that performing in the Yukon Quest and in the Iditarod two weeks later with the same dogs was impossible. But in 2007, Lance Mackey won the Idiatord two weeks after he won the Yukon Quest, with almost the same team. He did it on his 6 th attempt wearing the bib number 13. In 1978, his father Dick won the Iditarod on his 6th attempt wearing bib number 13. In 1978, his brother Rick won the Iditarod on his 6th attempt wearing bib number 13. This would have been enough to make history.

In 2008, he did it again winning both ultramarathons back to back. This would have been enough to make history.

In 2009, he chose to skip the Quest to focus on the Iditarod. He won the race for the 3rd time in a row, as only two mushers did before him: Susan Butcher and Doug Swingley. That year, he won his 7th 1000miler in 5 years. And this would have been way enough to make history.

This year, for the first time since 2007, he hasn't won a 1000 mile race (1700km) he entered. He finished as runner-up one hour behing Hans Gatt. But a few days later, Mackey won his fourth Iditarod in a row achieving a feat that nobody ever accomplished before him. Especiallay amazing as it has been done in a period where the race has never been so competitive. He didn't need it but now for sure Lance Mackey has made history. He stands as the most amazing long-distance musher in the world.

Lance mackey often said that he has learned a lot by watching how Robert Sorlie was running dogs. The Norwegian, one and only non american to ever won the Iditarod (2 times) has made his strategy popular in northern america. Sorlie trains his dogs to manage very long runs with short rests. That's the way he beat the alaskan teams when he won the Iditarod. The ability of the dogs to hold a steady pace for hours made the difference on faster teams but resting more.

Mackey has studied this technique and this year he beat faster teams like Hans Gatt (2nd) or King (3rd) by running longer and resting less. Joe Runyan who paid a visit to Mackey during the fall said that he saw that at that time of year Mackey trained his dogs to his impredictibility. He can harness the dogs many times at day or at night for long or short runs with long or short rests. Mackey said it gives his dogs a calm confidence on his unpredictability. That allows him to change his strategy at any time and bring his dogs back on the trail without upsetting or stressing them.

Mackey may not have the best dogs but he knows how to take the very best out of them. Hugh Neff, a good friend to Mackey, 3rd in this year Yukon Quest and 9th in thisyear's Iditarod has his own way to tell that. He said : "He could take your dogs and beat his team with your dogs. That's how good of a musher he is."

To be noticed during that race, the great 4th place of Ken Anderson. It's the scond time he takes this place, he did also in 2008. Ken, 2nd in La Grande Odyssée 2006, showed that he is really one of the very nest musher of Alaska.

 Photo: Jeff Schultz