53-year-old Iditarod winner: 'This is for all of the gentlemen of a certain age'
A 53-year-old Alaskan man won the Iditarod Tuesday night, becoming the oldest victor in the history of the famed trail sled dog race.
Mitch Seavey crossed the finish line in Nome, Alaska with his 10 dogs in temperatures just above zero degrees farenheit, completing the 1,112-mile race in nine days, 7 hours and 39 minutes. He also won the race in 2004.
He completed his first race in 1982 and has been in every race since 1995.
Seavey commented after his win Tuesday night in a report from the Associated Press on what it means to become the oldest victor in the 30 year history of the race:
"This is for all of the gentlemen of a certain age."
Seavey wins $50,400 and a 2013 pickup truck while the $600,000 remaining in the purse will be distributed throughout the 29 other mushers.
This year's runner-up, Aliy Zirkle, who also placed second last year, said after the race that Seavey won because he knows how to pace himself:
"Mitch has this ability to sit on the sidelines and refuel because he knows he needs to refuel, while everyone else is zooming by," she said. "It's smart, and that's probably why you won."
Footage of Seavy and Zirkle talking immediately following the race can be seen below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTVKJ2QH5SE
