Student Frequently Asked Questions

Read Jim's Journal.    Click Here: Journals

Many students also read the book, Following My Father's           Dreams.     Click Here:  Book

• How dangerous did you feel the race was? [Jim Warren]   You train for it, dress for it, learn all you can, and pray you don’t have to face the worst the artic can dish-out.  But, deep down you know it can kill you.  Fortunately no one has ever died running Iditarod.
• What does it take to become a musher? [Jim Warren]  Becoming a musher and running a world class team in Iditarod takes a minimum of 5 years to get the experience needed.  You have to run several qualifying races before you can run in Iditarod.  You also need a kennel of about 40 dogs which takes a lot of time and money to support.
• What made you decide to run the Iditarod? [Jim Warren]    I decided to run Iditarod mostly because it was an extension of my fathers dream.  He was a disabled war veteran and couldn’t do it himself.
• Are all of your dogs Huskies? If so, why this breed over others? [Jim Warren]   All of our dogs are Alaskan Huskies and are different from all other husky breeds.  An Alaskan is by definition a mixed breed.  They are tough, small, and wonderful dogs.  
• What kind of training does it take for yourself and your dogs? [Jim Warren]   I run a lot to condition my body to be able to hold up to the demands of the trail.  The dogs get about 1500 miles of training by running in teams.
• What kind of physical and mental preparation does it take? [Jim Warren]      You train to toughen physically.  You run the teams in all kinds of weather to toughen to the cold.  You run 2-3 day training runs to mentally toughen to the long hours of dark and sleep deprivation.  But no matter how much physical and mental toughness you think you have, it isn’t enough.
• What kind of supplies do you bring with you? [Jim Warren]  At each checkpoint we picked up our supplies that had been flown by bush plane.  It was items like dog food, dog booties, and people food.  
• What kind of dangers did you feel were on the trail? [Jim Warren]    There is always the danger of thin ice.  I stepped into a river once and another time my leaders broke through.  Then there is the danger of storms and wind.  The cold is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced; it is a killing cold.  We had a moose within 20 yards of us once but it didn’t charge.  We’d have been toast.
• How did you feel after the race was over? [Jim Warren]  I was to tired to really appreciate the moment but it was mostly a deep satisfaction.  It took a while to sink in.
• Why did you decide to withdraw this year ('05)? [Jim Warren]    I needed to stay around home more to be father to my 15 year old daughter Whitney.  Sometimes Dads do that; it is our job.
• Are you going to participate in the race next year? [Jim Warren]  Yes, I’ll run in ’06.