Not just PRETTY in pink.

This Monday in Fairbanks was definitely not your normal start to the week. The " Last Great Race" Iditarod took off out of our town for the third time since it began in 1973. 1000 miles these athletes, both two legged and four, trek across this beautiful state testing serious physical endurance and mental strength. I can't help but compare it to distance running- that is 400 marathons all at once, in temperatures as low as -40F ! The mushers train these dogs to accomplish something literally unimaginable .  Witnessing the beginning of this event, even if only for a short period because of -20 degree temperatures, was probably a once in a lifetime experience.

A group of Mamas that work out together with our kiddos locally,  Stroller Strong Moms Fairbanks, all went together  to cheer on these teams of athletes.  One of our ladies lives on the river and gave us a place to warm up and park to avoid keeping the littles out for too long. In the short amount of time the kids would last we were able to watch teams fly by, take some photos ( shocking I know! ) and the kids even got some high fives along the way. 

One team was hard to forget because of the pink booties the dogs were sporting- being a group of athletic Mamas it's hard not be a little GIRL POWER at the core. I quickly grabbed a couple shots to remind myself to find out the meaning behind all the pink ...  What a story I found. 

Race bib 22- DeeDee Jonrowe. Probably a household name to Alaskans familiar with Dog Mushing, but her story is one I just have to share . As you could assume the pink colored team represents breast cancer. In 2003 she won the Most Inspirational Musher Award for taking 18th place in the race THREE weeks after chemotherapy for breast Cancer. She is survivor. Through the years she has overcome serious accidents, fires, and severe cold weather injuries - Frostbite club anyone? She's a Believer and active member of her church in Willow AK  . Naturally she is a runner , triathlete, and even completed Ironman in 2006 . To top it all off Dee Dee holds the fastest female time record for the Iditarod and is a total babe at 63 years old. Beast AND  Beauty! 

Now looking back, standing beside this inspirational woman ... our DAUGHTERS and sons watching this inspirational woman... was worth all the frozen eyelashes and whine filled walk in the cold. What a story we have to tell . 

How fitting that March is Women's History month . Thank you DeeDee Jonrowe for setting the bar high and making history for Women everywhere. We will continue to follow along and cheer on a fellow BA Alaskan lady!