As Aliy and the team close in on Nome we’ve been reflecting on the race a little and wanted to share with you some lessons we’ve learned from Aliy Zirkle in the 2020 Iditarod:
1) Sometimes things don’t work out as you might have wished. You can either pout about it or you can take some time to reconcile yourself to it then carry on, giving it all you’ve got. As Aliy says in the banner at the top of our website: “For me it’s simple: do the absolute best I can do. If I can honestly do that… then I will be satisfied.” Also Aliy: “Suck it up, Buttercup”
2) Positivity in challenging times is important and rubs off on those around you. We’ve heard how much Aliy’s encouragement to those travelling near her, and the sharing of her wisdom and experience has been appreciated by her fellow mushers.
3) Perseverance conquers all. Perhaps not necessarily conquers all this year but Aliy and the team kept on keeping on and that is inspiring.
4) When the whole world around you is losing their heads (and perhaps quite rightly so – I am not trying to diminish the seriousness of the situation), spend time with your loved ones – in this case her dog team – because at the end of the day, that is what’s important.
5) Doing what you love is reward unto itself. We’re sure Aliy would not have wished to be anywhere else these last 10 days.
6) If you are kind and good to people when things are going well, they will stick by you when things don’t go so well. Here is where we’d like to thank those of you who continued to follow along with us even when it became clear she would not be competing for the win or a top 10 finish. SP Kennel has the best fans, sponsors and supporters! Thanks!
What else have you learned this year? Let us know in the comments.
We are so proud of Aliy, her team, and everyone at SP Kennel. What a ride! Well done. As always!
Aliy is an absolute inspiration to me! I have thoroughly enjoyed following her for many years, yet this year was my favorite! She and Bridgette were SOO fun in their documentaries on the YQ, and Allen was so fun to listen to as well! The highlight of my life was my bucket list trip my hubby gave me to come to the start in Alaska! Meeting Aliy was absolutely the icing on that cake! Altho bummed for her and the team, it really sounds like she has embraced the fun times she’s spent on the trail with the pups! (I agree, no better place to be). I’ve had the pleasure of sharing Aliy and her optimism and love for her dogs with my 9 year old niece this year, and she’s fallen in love with her and the dogs. She loves the signed photo by Aliy I sent and the dog cards were a HUGE hit! Sending love and prayers and many dog snuggles your way! Thank you for keeping positivity in our world! Love from Montana!
We know Aliy always does her very best, with the welfare of her team foremost!
I was wondering if there might be a new litter of pups coming soon. If so, I have an idea for a theme for names. To commemorate the times, I propose..Charmin, Scott, Northern, Quilt(ed), Twoply…etc..;)
I hope everyone at SPK, as well as all of the fans and supporters stay well!
lol @Susan. That’s a genius idea for the name of the next litter!
Great job, Aliy!
lol! I love that, Susan! That’s a great idea! Don’t forget Cottonelle and AngelSoft 🙂
LOL, Susan, and so funny given the circumstances. I hope we have a litter and that they all stay at the kennel. I am really missing all the many litter pics.
Susan, one of our local rescues just named their new litter after tp 🙃
I can only imagine how much the other mushers – especially the rookies and less experienced ones – enjoyed have Aily near them and able to share her joy, her spirit and her wisdom. Sometimes we are “held back” in order to be a blessing to others. I’m guessing she blessed many people along this year’s trail, just like always 🙂
Great Post! I had forgotten about “Suck it up, Buttercup”. Fun memory!
Encouragement, upbeat, perseverance…I wouldn’t expect anything else from Aliy. She’s been that way as long as I have been connected to SP Kennel. I think this is the first year since I have been following SP Kennel that she is not in the top 10 and she still makes a choice to be upbeat and kind. That’s a winner to me.
Thank You SPKennel for allowing us to follow along and be included in what you do!
Aliy’s fans are not “fair weather “‘fans. I and others admire her for her positivity, her smile, and her devotion to her dogs. Mush on, girl!!
Greetings from Aliy’s birth state, New Hampshire. This year we all need a positive attitude and Aliy certainly has that. For the past twelve days I have followed her along the Iditarod Trail – a welcome change from the daily news. You are a champion in our eyes. Looking forward to reading about you and “the dogs” in the years ahead.
I would like to share how I think about Aliy and her team and what I have learned from her. I would love if someone could tell Aliy about what I write here because I would like her to know how much she encourages me. Aliy is my hero. I say that because she is the most inspiring and encouraging person I know. My dream is to run the Iditarod and to live the wilderness lifestyle with my own team of sled dogs, and Aliy is the one who told me in an email to keep pushing for my dreams and to never give up. She told me to not let any hurdles stop me from pursuing my dream and to keep pressing for it. Aliy’s loving thoughts and encouragement is priceless and I will continue to cheer for her no matter what position she finishes in because, to me, ALIY is always a WINNER. I will never forget the things she’s said to me that have made a lifelong impact. It is because of her that I continue to press for my dream and have hope even when I feel that my dream is impossible to accomplish. Thank you Aliy.
I will always follow you and cheer you on because YOU are a WINNER!
I’ve learned how extremely blessed I am. I’ve been job hunting, to no avail…its a good thing.
I’m able to self isolate for my special needs son (who has compromised immunity in good times) because I haven’t started a new job!
I’m still able to watch Aliy and team (so proud of Decaf) because of the internet, Insider (even if their coverage of one of the biggest fan favorites (their words) was lacking IMO), and continue to be amazed at all she can go through and still come out smiling. Sad for the blast that will hit her when she comes back to the world as we know it. Somehow, I think, of anyone, she can handle it. Mush on gang!
Greetings from Aliy’s birth state, New Hampshire. This year we all need a positive attitude and Aliy certainly has that. For the past twelve days I have followed her along the Iditarod Trail – a welcome change from the daily news. You are a champion in our eyes. Looking forward to reading about you and “the dogs” in the years ahead.
I haven’t been able to follow as closely this year because I work in healthcare and things have been crazy. I haven’t even been able to read the newspaper, watch the news, or catch my breath. But I have kept tabs when I could and always, always, always cheering Aliy on. I’m proud of the team’s perseverence and a Top 20 finish is nothing to scoff at. Wedgy and I send big hugs to Aliy and the team. Our champs!
Thank you Melissa!
Stay safe on the front lines.
🙂
I admire Aliy so much. I’m always hoping for her team to win.
Before this race started I knew that would not mean arriving at the burled arch before everyone else.
Aliy has already won this year’s Iditarod. Her arrival in Kaltag was a win! Her team is currently 30 miles past White Mountain, and we know that not even a vicious storm will stop her at this point. It is on to Nome for the SPK Red team.
She arrived to her 24 hour rest having arrived behind 26 other mushers who had stopped for their 24. She came out with 28 musher leading her. She is now heading to Nome in excellent position for a 17th place finish with great speed. That means Aliy isn’t just committed to finishing and getting as many teammates to Nome as possible, she is still competitive Aliy racing.
This year Aliy is proving that even though we may suffer hardship, loss, pain or trauma, we don’t need to let that change us fundamentally. Aliy still embodies the competitive spirit, positive personality, loving nature, trusting heart, and giving soul that she did five years ago. I can’t think of a more perfect time for Aliy’s lesson of overcoming.
Aliy is a tremendous blessing to so many people, and I can’t thank those who help share her story enough. We love you!
SPK’s banner crossed my mind many times. Yes Aliy should be quite satisfied this year.
I believe Aliy’s team is headed to Nome faster than it ran much of the first third of the race. 😉
It doesn’t really matter what place you are, Aliy, you ARE my favorite musher (& Allen, Too!). Rest well, take a nice long soak in a tub, do all of your favorite things and know that we all leaned from you! We hope to still see your hand on your heart as you come in because you are and always will be loved very much! You’re the best!🥰💖💝💘‼️🤩
Aliy & red team , You are my favorite musher.Aliy ,You should be quite satisfied for this Year.
You are the Best, Great You make it Nome.Have a Great long soak in the a tub.
Hi, from Florida.
Aliy, we are all so proud of you right now! It really doesn’t matter what placing you are in. Also proud of the dogs as well! Especially Junior as she is one of my favorite dogs to watch race👍💛
@susan. Charmin all the way!
Thank you SPK for another terrific season! Your attitude and positivity in the face of adversity is inspiring! Stay strong. We’re here for you no matter what. Love your doggies, especially Bruno wink wink. 😉
Aily and team, So very glad to see you preserve! I love this race and watching all the stories unfold. I have a lot of health concerns and it just helps me in my own life to watch this race to see how the mushers go thru all of this and preserve! Gives me much strength! You are one of the calm mushers and really have control over your team. I have watched your video’s and read much of things you do. I especially enjoyed seeing you giving a snack to one of the villagers that had a child with food allergies as both my children have these and thought how cool it was to share a “safe” snack with the little girl (this was last year in Anvil). I appreciate your love for your dogs and respect for mushing! I hope to visit Alaska someday! Thanks for being a great caring person! Mush on!
I’ve known how special Aliy is for 16 years after I met her the first time in Nome. Every year about this time, when I think I couldn’t admire her more, I do. This year is no exception. She may not make the top 10, but she has been and always will be my #1 favorite musher. So give those doggies an extra big hug when you get to Nome. I hope to see you next year!!
Woohoo!
Aliy through SAFETY!
🙂
Well now, everything and some jokes I would have made are already said!!!
How the Red Team, with so many of the major big boys missing, managed to do so well…I think by the end it was 6 boys and 5 girls in the line.
As one poster above noted, the team ran faster at the end than the beginning – I guess they had to learn as they went along. Love it that Dutch was in single lead followed by Junior and the new leader star QT!!!
No one is more important to the team than Musher Aliy. She is a beacon of hope for everything that is right and true and honest. We are so fortunate to be allowed in on her adventures. WOOF WOOF WOOF
Aliy, Thanks for my first ride in tracking the Iditarod Race. I enjoyed watching your videos and all the updates. Plans to be in Alaska in May/June are put on hold for now but I would love to meet you and your team sometime in the near future. You are a great leader and a winner no matter when you crossed the finish line. God’s Blessings.
Life is good….you can waste a lot of time being angry, upset and disappointed, but there is not much fun in that! Always look to the silver lining…it will show a way out to a happier place. Be kind to yourself and others.
We are in a strange time….sequestered from others we are thankful to have what we have, but feel horrible for those who will wake up each morning not feeling like life is good anymore. I can only pray people don’t lose hope… better days will come….just hold on, and this too shall pass.
Aliy no doubt will have a smile on her face when she finishes. For her fans it’s not going to matter the placement…we just want to see her finish and see her reunite with her SPK Family…and see those dogs getting their praise and love….that is all that matters…a happy ending and some tail wags! Thank you all for the race coverage….you done good!
Aliy you are a hero to many. Look forward to sharing a breakfast with you again……you know where.
Aliy is such a strong and kind woman. She gives me hope in my bad times by just her smile and kind words she writes. I would have loved to have met her. You do so much that you don’t even realize!!
Aliy , Allen and all those associated with SPK are Champions in everything they do . Warm wishes to you all on wonderful effort during these crazy times. Hugs for the doggies and special hugs and pats for Jefe . ❤️🖤 from Joanne and Denali , Melbourne , Australia
Aliy is an inspiration! I am so proud to have sponsored her and SPK for many years. There is so much to learn from accepting the situation and maximizing your response. Many happy returns! Congratulations on another Iditarod finish!
She said almost those very same things that you mentioned at the finish ..
You asked what have I learned this year …
* Just before the race, my son-in-law completed the 350 Iditarod Trail Invitation on his bike. He has a genetic eye disease that reduces his ability to see at night and has severely affected his peripheral vision. I remembered that you can be so proud of what some you love has achieved that the glow lasts for days.
* I have learned that staying calm, rational, but careful goes a long way to helping those around you do the same.
* I have learned that my wishes and desires for change, movement, interesting things to happen is secondary to being granted another day of life.
* My children and grandchild are here in Fairbanks, but under 14 day quarantine from having traveled, but they are here experiencing the same things I am, reading the same news about our city, and adjusting to the same changes in our world. And I am very grateful for that. I have learned something as simple as going through this together makes all the difference.
* I have learned I can accept living with myself, my husband, and our dogs ( mostly just us as we continue social distancing) for as long as I need to.
* Life is good
Aily always inspires and her joy is so obvious! Regardless of race standings she remains at the top of the leaderboard! Thanks for sharing your adventures with those of us who will never be able to run an Iditarod.
Aliy you are an inspiration to more people than you will probably ever know! Just you being you and doing what you love is an inspiration, regardless of performance. I am also a woman in a field that is dominated by men, but I can’t even imagine what the challenges of mushing, especially in the Iditarod, are like to endure! I have been a fan of sled dog racing since I was a little girl. But, as a little girl being raised in the South, I knew it wasn’t really possible for me. So, I’ll continue watching all the documentaries and your interviews to fill my mushing void and for inspiration. As you said, keep on keeping on. You rock!
Aliy is a special individual, focused, positive and always has a smile on her face! It was a hard race for sure but
the smile she came into Nome with was something else. I read the book “The Cruelest Miles” over the winter and
I think of this love between the musher and dogs is so unique and special. There is nothing that these dogs will
not do for their master. It is a real bond as I know Allen & Aliy have for their dogs! You at SPK are just the best in
keeping us fans up beat. Thanks to YOU!!! Well Done Aliy!!
I have learned that you just never know. When the race started, there was plenty of snow – no mushing over bowling balls (tussocks) like Aily did last year. It seemed the race rocked along – until it didn’t. …. and yet again, the drama came at the end.
GO ALIY! You are an inspiration!