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Maj. (Dr.) Thomas Knolmayer and his sled dog team cover the last 16 miles of the 2006 Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska, Friday, March 17, 2006. Doctor Knolmayer finished the 1,150-mile race across Alaska in 11 days, 22 hours and 13 minutes, bettering his time from last year by 47 hours. He is chief of surgery at the 3rd Medical Group at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown)
Maj. (Dr.) Thomas Knolmayer reacts to a cheering crowd at the finish line of the 2006 Iditarod Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 17, 2006, in Nome, Alaska. Doctor Knolmayer finished the 1,150-mile race across Alaska in 11 days, 22 hours and 13 minutes, bettering his time from last year by 47 hours. He is chief of surgery at the 3rd Medical Group at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown)
Maj. (Dr.) Thomas Knolmayer and his dog team head to the finish line of the 2006 Iditarod Sled Dog Race on Friday, March 17, 2006, in Nome, Alaska. Doctor Knolmayer finished the 1,150-mile race across Alaska in 11 days, 22 hours and 13 minutes. It was 47 hours faster than his time last year. Doctor Knolmayer is chief of surgery at the 3rd Medical Group, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown)
Air Force doctor finishes Iditarod with flourish
by Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown 3rd Communications Squadron 3/20/2006 - NOME, Alaska (AFPN) -- After finishing last year’s Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Maj. (Dr) Thomas Knolmayer said it would be his one and only running of the 1,150 mile race across Alaska’s wilderness. But, anyone who knows the 38-year-old surgeon stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, knew better.
After getting the blessing from his wife, Tina, the major threw his name in the hat to compete in the 2006 race.
“I still had all the dogs and they can’t just sit around doing nothing,” he said, referring to his kennel of 21 Alaskan Huskies.
After a good training season of running the sled dogs for three to four hours, four to five nights a week, Doctor Knolmayer felt good about the team this year.
“The dogs are running strong and I have a lot more experience going into this year’s race,” Doctor Knolmayer said. He was also fortunate to have a co-worker, Lt. Col. Michelle Prevost, running half his team with him after work, cutting his training time in half.
Having one of his strongest dogs healthy this year also helped. Last year, Tomahawk, a 7-year-old lead dog, was injured two weeks before the Iditarod and had to sit out, but this year he was raring to go.
With an upcoming assignment and having to leave Alaska, Doctor Knolmayer said he knew this would be his last Iditarod. That made this year’s race just that much more special.
That wasn’t the only thing that made it special. This year he ran with a bigger purpose -- a 10-year-old girl with cancer was cheering him on.
