Hands-down one of the absolute human top-athletes in the world of long-distance sled dog racing is Alaskan Aliy Zirkle. She is a woman. Her “most extraordinary dog” throughout time: Quito. She is a female. In Zirkle’s own words, “she was magnificent.”

Quito, a two-time Golden Harness Award Winner, passed away on the day of the 2019 Iditarod start.

A 1000-mile Golden Harness Award is the highest recognition a sled dog can earn in this sport—earned through outstanding performance in a race and then being recognized by the competition, as the fellow dog mushers in that race cast their votes to determine the dog that earns the award.

Does it matter that Zirkle and Quito are females? Not really. In this sport, males and females compete on entirely equal footing. But as Zirkle came to realize, maybe this fact, that she is a female and at the top of her sport – maybe one of the toughest sports in the world – give her a unique opportunity to guide and inspire women. In the way that Quito inspired her.

Zirkle did not grow up in Alaska or with a life destined to run sled dogs. She made it happen. Growing up in “the south,” the exotic island of Puerto Rico was home for much of her childhood. Her first dog mushing experience was hooking up one of the many stray dogs she took in to care for to pull her sitting on a skateboard.  In her final year majoring in Biology, she moved to Alaska and lived in a wall tent in a remote Alaskan village. During her first winter, Zirkle adopted six huskies, built a dog sled and explored the surrounding wilderness with her dog team. She also entered her first dog race. Finishing second to last, it was not the thrill of winning that got her hooked. But Zirkle was hooked; She loved the solitary, independent, wilderness lifestyle with the dogs.

Every year since 1998 Zirkle has raced either the 1000 miles of Iditarod or Yukon Quest. She has reached the finish line every time. Without a doubt one of the absolute darlings of Iditarod fans for her bright and yet insanely tough nature paired with her deep connection with her dogs, Zirkle today continues to be a fan favorite to win the Iditarod race year after year. And she has been ever-so-close, again and again. Zirkle has finished second in the Iditarod three times, three years in a row. In 2012 she came in second across the finish line 59 minutes and 44 seconds behind the winner; in 2013 it was just 24 minutes; and in 2014 it was an incredible mere 2 minutes and 22 seconds.

In 2016 Zirkle was leading the Iditarod race when suddenly faced death, and it was with great uncertainty that she actually was able to continue to make it across the finish line after being attacked by a man on a snow machine. The Netflix-produced “Losers” series tackling the question “In a ‘winning is everything’ society, how do we handle failure,” profiles athletes who have turned the agony of defeat into human triumph. One episode (6 – “Aliy) features Zirkle and this harrowing experience that tested her incredible fortitude.

Netflix subscribers – don’t miss this one… get the popcorn popping and get comfortable to enjoy. It is remarkable, about a truly remarkable athlete and human being.

Zirkle did win the grueling 1000-mile Yukon Quest (2000). She was then the first woman to do so—and no woman has won it since. 

Is 2020 the year Zirkle adds the Iditarod Champion trophy to her incredible rap sheet, becoming the third woman to win the Iditarod?