Onward

The world is a very different place than it was when we kicked off the 2020 ITI on March 1st. What hasn’t changed, though, is the character of the people that make up the ITI family. The athletes, volunteers, residents on the Iditarod Trail, family members and countless people behind the scenes are still the caring, adaptable, and resilient people they were on March 1st.

Society today is full of volatility, complexity and ambiguity these days. But, highly adaptable and resilient people, like the members of the ITI family, do not freeze in their tracks when confronted with uncertain situations. Instead, we take a deep breath, thoughtfully analyze the circumstance and harness the creative energy it takes to overcome the challenges that face us. Now, more than ever, we need people with unbreakable character and a strong predisposition for action to step up to the challenges in the world, to encourage those around them to act and to do the hard work needed to get our communities back on their feet.

To support these extraordinary people, the ITI staff has toiled non-stop for months preparing for the 2021 event with the goal of creating a COVID-19-safe environment for everyone involved. More information will be forthcoming, but those preparations include:

• coordination with the CDC;

• hiring a medical consultant;

• collaborating with local government agencies;

• re-designing checkpoints; and

• formulating processes and procedures to detect and limit disease transmission, including COVID-19 testing prior to the start.

Thank you for your trust and confidence during these tumultuous times. It is an honor to work with all of you and the communities of Alaska in a combined effort designed to demonstrate the power of the human spirit.

- Kyle Durand, Race Director