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Mar
2008
Prize for Next Year’s Iditarod Winner: Coffee
By Carol Pearson
Organizers for the famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race have announced plans to revamp the awards given out for winning. The idea came this year when Lance Mackey pulled out his second consecutive victory in the contest.
At one point Tuesday, Mackey sat at a checkpoint drinking coffee as he waited for his main competitor, Jeff King, to catch up. “This is good stuff,” said Mackey. “Seriously, after being outside so many days straight, it’s kind-of nice to sit inside and drink a hot beverage.”
It appears that Mackey may get more than he bargained for there. Race organizers have teamed up with Starbucks in an effort to boost the commercial appeal. Race official Jerry James added, “We’re also looking for a way to spend less money on humans. I mean, $875,000 seems like an awful lot of money to give people who are being pulled around by dogs. So, we’re thinking next year we’ll give the humans a lifetime supply of Starbucks and spend the prize money on kibble for the dogs. We would never had gotten this idea had it not been for Mackey’s statement about that coffee.”
When reached for comment, Mackey scratched his head and said, “Seriously? They took that WAY out of context. Well, if they’re going to be that way, remind me next year to say that Hawaii would be a much better place to have that last checkpoint.”
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