The World’s Longest Winter Ultramarathon
The Iditarod Trail Invitational, known by mountain-biking racers as the ITI, traces the historic thousand-mile Iditarod dogsled course in Alaska from Anchorage to Nome. The race attracts elite endurance athletes from around the world who are prepared to walk, ski, or pedal—and push—their bikes across Alaska wilderness through gale-force winds, whiteout blizzards, waist-deep snow, freezing rain, and temperatures that can swing 90 degrees in a matter of hours, from above freezing to minus 50. Up to 30 days out, with 34,000 feet of elevation gain, and few options for support or rescue, the race is regarded by many as one of the most challenging physical experiences on the planet.
Read a feature story about this incredible experience for Janice Tanaka Tower ’84 and her brother, Matt Tanaka ’81 in our November/December 2025 issue.
