Elmendorf Airman finishes Iditarod

  • Published
  • By Capt. Amy Hansen
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) --  The only active-duty servicemember to compete in the 1,161-mile Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race this year crossed the finish line in Nome, Alaska at 12:13 p.m. local time March 20.

Maj. (Dr.) Thomas Knolmayer, Elmendorf’s chief of surgery, finished the race in 58th place out of 63 finishers. He was on the trail 13 days, 22 hours, 13 minutes and 25 seconds. Sixteen mushers who started the race did not finish, many citing the warm weather, the resulting poor trail conditions and the impact both factors had on the well-being of their dogs.

Dr. Knolmayer finished the race with nine dogs out of his original 16-dog team. The others were sent home at various checkpoints along the route because of illness or injuries, a standard procedure for all Iditarod teams.

Reports from the trail indicate the doctor battled mushy, rutted snow, a dunk in a river during which his sled got caught under an ice shelf, and overheated dogs, which he treated by packing their bellies with snow and affording them frequent rest breaks.

Despite these challenges, the doctor persevered and managed to mush a distance about equal to the mileage between New York City and Orlando, Fla., in fewer than 14 days.

Dr. Knolmayer's wife, Tina; their 5-month-old son, Zane; and a camera crew from Elmendorf hailed the doctor's arrival under the burled arch of Nome on March 20.