2024-03-06 01:39:00
DES LACS, N.D. (KFYR) – You probably know about the Iditarod, but you may not be as familiar with the equally, if not more challenging, Iditarod Trail Invitational, or ITI.
In the ITI, participants either ski, bike or hike their way across the famous 1,000-mile course used by the mushers.
North Dakota natives Mark and Kari Norby have been watching their daughter Faye Norby’s progress in this year’s race.
It’s North Dakota native Faye Norby’s third time competing in the Iditarod Trail Invitational. Her first competition with the ITI was in 2020 for its 350-mile course, and she did the course again in 2022. Both times, she won in her division. This year, she plans to go from the race’s starting point near Anchorage all the way to Nome.
“She loves a challenge, she loves nature, she loves the outdoors, so it’s not a surprise that she’s doing this race. I just pray a lot… I pray a lot,” said Kari.
Faye’s parents say she’s always been competitive and up for an adventure, and she participated in sports growing up.
When she’s not working as a professor of epidemiology at her local university, Faye and her partner, whom she met during one of her previous winter ultra races, compete in winter competitions like the ITI.
Her parents say at first, they mostly worried about her; there’s wildlife to contend with, the race requires competitors to haul around 50 to 55 pounds of supplies with them, and they have to plan for how they’ll restock along the way. Having several wins under her belt reassures them.
“Now we do pretty much sleep through the night while she’s on the trail, but we check just before we go to bed and if we’re up during the night, but we do get sleep now,” Mark said.
Mark said if she makes it to the end of the 1,000-mile course— she chose to compete in this year by foot— she’ll automatically be the winner since the other five competitors in her division have dropped out, mostly due to extreme weather. He said she usually moves slower than the other competitors but keeps a steady pace and makes significant progress at night.
Faye made it to the 250-mile checkpoint at McGrath yesterday. Her partner, Jeff Leuwerke, is competing in the men’s division.
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