Volunteer Joins the John Beargrease Marathon

For thirty-two years, the John Beargrease Marathon has been a race of skills, wits, and endurance.

One volunteer  vet tech has seen the highs and lows of the race over the years and decided to step off the sidelines and onto the wintry track.

Beckie Hacker lovers caring for her dogs and she even enjoys taking care of the four legged friends of others, too. She’s been a volunteer for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon for thirteen years. “It is a lifestyle,” Hacker says.

But she stopped at lucky year number thirteen and hopes it pays off. “We’re going to give it a shot,” said Hacker.

She’s entering herself and her fourteen dogs in the race for the very first time. “I’m very nervous,” Hacker said.

Beckie’s been running dogs for three years and has a few racing veterans on her team as well as a couple with just one year under their collar. Hacker said, “I don’t have a lot of quit in me from the way I am. It’s just something I’m going to have to power through.”

“The dogs…their gas pedal is all the way to the boards all the time. It’s up to the mushers to scale them back to a reasonable pace,” said John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Director Jason Rice.

Beckie and the forty-five other mushers must watch their dogs through expected warmer than normal temperatures.

“Most of the race doesn’t happen where the cameras are. Most of the beargrease happens in the woods, in the dark, very solitary you and your dogs, that’s your company for the week,” said Rice.

Beckie wants to use the race and qualify for the Iditarod. “I’m going to get there I’m very determined. I’m very stubborn.”

The race kicks off in Two Harbors and finishes in Duluth.