Duluthian completes her first Iditarod

At approximately 4:35 pm Central Time on Sunday, Duluthian Emily Ford completed her first Iditarod. Wearing bib #34, it took her 13 days, 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 44 seconds to complete the race.

This Iditarod’s course was the longest in the race’s 53-year history, stretching 1,128 miles. The course was adjusted due to the lack of snow on the most dangerous portion of the trail. For the fourth time in history, the Alaskan sled dog race started in Fairbanks instead of Anchorage.

Ford is the second black woman in history to complete the race. In February, Ford posted to her Instagram page about this milestone.

“The historical tale of Black folks in the snow with dogs is short, but also one of the most important tales to me,” said Ford.

Ford went on to describe the feats of Matthew Henson, Newton Marshall, and Becca Moore. Matthew Henson was the first black man to reach the North Pole. Newton Marshall was the first black man to finish the Iditarod, completing it in 2010, 2013, and 2014. Becca Moore was the first black woman to finish the Iditarod, completing it in 2015 and 2016.

“Finish or not, I feel so lucky to continue the legacy of black folks in the winter with dogs,” said Ford in the post.

Ford was also able to meet Moore in late February and posted on Facebook about being able to meet one of her heroes.

“Meeting Becca before the start of Iditarod gave me a reset. A reminder of why I’m heading out to Nome. She reminded me to have fun and to stay awake, she met a few of our dogs and gave them some love,” said Ford. “My goal for Iditarod is just to finish with happy dogs. Not to race fast. To have fun, not to get caught up in placement.”

Ford finished 10 dogs in harness in a race that had 10 scratches by the time she crossed the finish line in Nome, Alaska.