Alaska Dispatch

"The Lance Mackey Story: How My Obsession with Dog Mushing Saved My Life" is as close as most of us will ever come to hitching a ride on Lance Mackey's sled as it crosses the vast frozen reaches of Alaska, and as such, his book doesn't disappoint. From the opening chapter, when he shares the awe and wonder of making sled dog racing history in 2007 with his unprecedented dual Yukon Quest and Iditarod wins, to the closing lines, which will be savored long after reading the book, Lance's masterful use of the written language to convey places, events, and especially emotions draws the reader into his world.

"There is always the comfort and beauty of watching my team trotting. Muscles on their hind legs, rhythmic, trotting with so much power. Transfixed, I can stare for hours at my dogs moving across the white landscape, reminded that life itself is about moving forward -- made authentic with risk. I'm willing to take risks to keep living, and my dogs are bold, always ready to share it with me. I've learned to force myself to look around, take my eyes off the team, even ride backward on my sled and look behind, to break the trance."

With the tireless dedication and unflagging support of his many long-legged teammates, Lance Mackey changed the future of mushing and redefined long distance sled dog racing. A cancer survivor, he won the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race four times, and he's won the 1,149-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, from Anchorage to Nome, each of the last three years. He's won almost every mid- and long-distance sled dog race in Alaska. He's won multiple veterinarian's awards and humanitarian awards for excellence in dog care, and his lead dogs have numerous Golden Harnesses for their trail-eating accomplishments. Twice nominated for the coveted ESPY Award, and honored with a place in the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, Lance shares what happened along the way, and in doing so, he gives his readers an unexpected look at how legends are made.

"I saw the disappointment in the eyes of my parents, noticed when a teacher shook her head in disbelief, watched a judge frown as he read my record, and numbed my vision with bouts of substance abuse and an indulged indifference. It took me a while to climb over those obstacles, but I did it, and I don't have much sympathy for myself. That can make you cry, even more than physical pain."

Beautifully illustrated by Alaskan artist Jon Van Zyle, and filled with never-before-seen family photographs, the story of Lance Mackey's life adds another dimension to an already larger-than-life sports hero. If you've ever wondered about the personal back story of this incredible athlete, if you've ever wanted to know what it's like to be out there on the trail in the middle of nowhere depending on a team of huskies to see you safely home, if you've ever considered the demanding price he pays for his victories, Lance's book will be a satisfying read. He pulls no punches in explaining his complicated health issues, and he delights in sharing the triumphs and joys he's been rewarded with.

"I was mugged, hugged, and overwhelmed. But I stole the chance, in a little moment of silence, to lean over my mother, the woman I'd put through hell for many a year and who'd stood by me for many a year. I hugged her tight and whispered, 'Dreams do come true, Mama.'"

Like the man who lived the story, this book has staying power. The many artfully-written word pictures Lance draws for his readers, glimpses of his life on the back of a dogsled, make this a book to be treasured, dogeared, bookmarked, gifted to others, and read over and over again.

"The Lance Mackey Story: How My Obsession with Dog Mushing Saved My Life," by Lance Mackey; foreword by Joe Runyan, edited by Tricia Brown, illustrated by Jon Van Zyle. 280 pages. Photos, artwork, maps. ISBN 978-0-615-34423-2. Publication in 2010 by Zorro Books. $24.95.

Jan DeNapoli photo

"IditaQuest" champion Mackey takes a break from the 2008 All-Alaska Sweepstakes.

Helen Hegener is an author and a documentary filmmaker specializing in long distance sled dog races and the men, women and dogs who run them. Learn more at Northern Light Media.