I am an unabashed fan of the Iditarod, a truly unique event that for 16 days each March unites us Alaskans - despite our differences - in wonder and appreciation for the intrepid mushers and their amazingly athletic canine teams.

I've been following this annual 1,000-mile sled dog race on TV and in the newspaper every year since I first arrived in Alaska 33 years ago. Many years I have gone downtown or out along the trail here in Anchorage to cheer on the mushers as they take their ceremonial run through the city on the first Saturday of March. My husband has been an Iditarod volunteer over the past few years, so we have traveled to Willow, about 70 miles north of Anchorage, for the restart, as well. Last year right after the race, he suggested that it might be fun to take a trip out to Nome for the 2009 finish, and I, of course, agreed, having never been to the finish, nor even Western Alaska. So we made our reservations for a week at the funky but friendly Nome Nugget Inn, right at the finish line, and started counting down the months.

Finally, March 7th arrived, the day of the "ceremonial start" in Anchorage. This is a short 11-mile run, mostly for the benefit of the fans, from downtown Anchorage, along a trail through town to the Campbell Airstrip. Most of Anchorage, as well as supporters from around the world, gather all along the route (or around their TV sets) to cheer on their favorites and celebrate the sport.

In this gallery and in the one following, "Nome Sweet Nome," I will be sharing some of my photographic impressions of this year's very memorable "last great race."