Interesting read in the Anchorage Daily-News about the new drug testing policies the Iditarod will be instituting in 2010. Read on to hear what three-time champion and medical marijuana user Lance Mackey has to say about the matter (“I’m going to pee in their little cup, and laugh in their face.”)

In May, the Iditarod Trail Committee voted to expand Rule 29 (“Use of Drugs and Alcohol”). And now, racers may find themselves being tested at checkpoints during the 10-day, 1100 mile race. The vote passed with only two board members John Handeland and Jim Palin voting no to drug tests.

It begs the question, is Jim Palin who I think he is?

Father of Todd, a snow mobile champion in his own right. Grandfather of Bristol, Trig, etc. Would-be Grandfather-in-law of Levi. And Father-in-law of you know who?

I looked online for hard evidence – even emailing a blogger who covered the drug testing story – but am yet to confirm. But how many Jim Palin’s hailing from Wasilla, AK could there be?

I need to know if this is the Jim Palin, because if that dude voted against drug testing in dog sled racing and it goes mostly unknown, that would be a tragedy.

She’ll host/ judge/ ruin this new reality show about the Iditarod, and, boom, six months from now – the White Oprah! (Tip of the hat to J Dot Domingo, who’s actually predicting this White Oprah outcome, he’s probably kidding)

It indeed flew under my radar that the Discovery Channel was airing a new show this Fall about the 1,000+ mile Alaskan sled dog race, called “Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod“, which premiered on 10/14 and airs every Friday, at 8 p.m. Check out the trailer:

Since this series is apparently baked, I’m thinking as a follow-up: “America’s Next Top Musher”, hosted by Palin, featuring a cast of characters resembling the usual cast of reality show characters. (what’s Bonaduce been up to, anyway?)

And, boom, a year from now you can rest assured that Sarah Palin is preoccupied folksin’ around in Alaska with a bunch of VH1 producers, and has all but abandoned blind political ambitions.

“A roughly 55-pound sled dog can burn up to 12,000 kilocalories per day – the equivalent of 24 Big Macs. A human athlete, to sustain Iditarod-level performance for just one day, would have to eat, *and* efficiently process, the equivalent of 72 Big Macs.” (DogBlog.com)

Though the stats are pretty staggering, knowing that the Iditarod is a 10-20 day race where the dogs mush for 1,100+ miles (temps, can be as low as -40 degrees fahrenheit), I wouldn’t say that the revelations here blew my mind. What is most impressive, however, is that these dogs can break down anything:

“Sled dogs eat a commercial race diet, but it can be supplemented by anything from salmon to congealed lard, all of which they’re able to convert to fuel.”

Hence, the relevance of the Big Mac analogy above. I can’t even jog after eating a turkey burger, by the way.

Short of going back in time and studying beasts that did battle in the gladiatorial arena, I think we might have found nature’s preeminent competitor here.

Link:

Iditarod Dog Athletic Supremacy Explained (Discovery.com)