Run With the Reindeer

Spain has the running of the bulls.  Anchorage has the running of the reindeer -- an annual race that is part of the Fur Rondy and Iditarod festivities...it is man, or woman, vs reindeer.  I kid you not.

This event was started 8 years ago by the local rock station KWHAL.  I saw this ad for it and decided I would have to go and check it out.

photo taken from the Fur Rondy website

The crowds were thick at the Reindeer Run, as hundreds of people signed up to race against the reindeer...just to keep it interesting, most people wore costumes.  I did indeed see a fur bikini go by, and it wasn't on the reindeer.  Even Left Shark made an appearance.

My first observation was that  the Reindeer are a lot shorter than I was expecting.  Even with go-pro attached, they were shorter than me.

The second thing I noticed is that the event is a bit like a stand up comedy skit.  The dialogue from the DJ's was priceless...taking jabs at everything from the look of this year's "extra mean, freshly sharpened" reindeer to the even easier target of the runners, telling them to be cautious, there were injuries every year, usually from people being trampled by the people in mad panic about the reindeer behind THEM.  They also cautioned that the poor reindeer didn't have the benefit of having consumed a whole bottle of Jager before the event, unlike most of the human runners.

I usually think about the animal's welfare first and foremost, and was happy to see the reindeer being lovingly walked along the street, and being petted by children in the crowd.  When I tried to find out where they get the reindeer from, the best lead I got was that they are from the Running Reindeer Ranch...a family farm/tourist attraction, and it seems they are treated like a family pet.  The owner is quoted as saying he isn't worried about the reindeer getting hurt, he is more worried that they won't run, and be more interested in snuffling at pockets for treats.

Nonetheless, after some wait in the jostling crowd, the countdown began and the runners were off.  They would get a few seconds headstart before they released the reindeer.  It seemed like a fair amount of time, but in a matter of seconds the Reindeer were released as well, behind their human opponents.  Maybe it was the costumes...maybe there really was a lot of Jager consumed, but it sure took a long time to traverse those 4 blocks.  I got a photo of the first place runner coming in!

2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th were all in close standing!

6th and 7th had clearly become distracted along the way but were picking up speed in the home stretch.

And this little guy in 8th was running his heart out to beat 9th place, the fastest human in the ladies heat.

The rest of the herd (and by herd I am referring to the humans) shuffled by in various stages of ridiculousness, followed by the last reindeer, who ambled along with the people, no doubt sniffing pockets for snacks as predicted.

Wonderful wacky Alaska, I am happy to call you home.