Alabama-born Jessie Holmes leading the pack in Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A man who grew up in Alabama may soon join the ranks of those who have won Alaska's most storied sports tradition.
Jessie Holmes, who was was born in Sylacauga and grew up in Phenix City before leaving for Alaska in 2004, is currently in first place as he and his team of 11 dogs make their way across 'The Last Frontier' in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a race that covers nearly 1,000 miles between Anchorage and Nome. Holmes, who also stars on the reality show 'Life Below Zero' on National Geographic, has competed in the race every year since 2018.
Last year, Holmes came in third place, the highest he had ever finished in the race. Dallas Seavey came first.
According to Alaska Public Media, Holmes pulled into a checkpoint at Unalakleet, Alaska Tuesday night, marking three quarters of the race being behind him. By Wednesday afternoon, he had checked into Shaktoolik, which is roughly 200 miles away from the finish line on Nome's Front Street.
In a profile published by CBS 42 last year, Holmes talked about how he first fell in love with the sport after meeting a neighbor who was involved in the sport while he living in the Yukon.
'I just fell in love with the lifestyle,' Holmes said at the time. 'I fell in love with the dogs out in the wilderness.'
Holmes, who lives in a makeshift home some 30 miles off the main road in Brushkana with some 42 dogs in his kennel, said he feels like his hard work all these years with the race is now starting to pay off.
'It's good seeing all this work we've been putting in there, going on a big stage, and coming to fruition,' he said.
For Holmes, who also competes in some 16 ultramarathons a year, dog sledding presents an endurance test that he feels compelled to challenged himself with.
'You find out what you're capable of,' Holmes said.
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