The 2021 Iditarod was a great race for Nome musher Aaron Burmeister, setting a personal record in his 27th race.

Burmeister finished second, just three hours behind winner Dallas Seavey. This year, he said, the race was very different.

“You know it’s a different event when you’re not going to Nome… It was certainly a world-class dog sled race, but it wasn’t the Iditarod or it didn’t feel like the Iditarod because you didn’t have the villages, you didn’t have the people and friends along the Yukon River and the Coast,” Burmeister told listeners.

He said the only difference leading up to the race was the training schedule. “We certainly spent a lot more time with them and on the trail this winter, because there was nothing else to do, and we didn’t go out and do any socializing,” Burmeister shared.

Now, he has his sights on Iditarod 2022 – the 50th anniversary of the race. ”I’m planning on that being my last Iditarod, but my goal is to bring the victory home to Nome next year. We’ll be just as focused, train just as tough of a dog team, and hopefully be able to bring that victory home to Nome.”

Image at top: Aaron Burmeister walks the dog line while making a short stop at Nikolai. Photo Credit: David Poyzer/The Iditarod.