Catholic rookie Iditarod musher completes race

Published: 2006-03-29

CHUGIAK, Alaska (CNS) -- Catholic first-time Iditarod musher Eric Rogers said his mantra while on the trail between Anchorage and Nome was "God is with me. God is guiding me. God is helping me." Rogers, 58, completed the race, although it took him 15 days, 14 hours, seven minutes and 50 seconds. He was the 68th of 71 who finished; another 12 dropped out before completing the race. Top finisher Jeff King finished the course in nine days, 11 hours, 11 minutes and 36 seconds. "I worked harder than I ever expected. There was no place on the trail that I could call fun, but it was a very rewarding experience," said Rogers, a member of St. Patrick Parish in Anchorage, in a postrace posting on his Web site at www.rnorthbounddogs.com. "When they asked me at the finish what was the hardest part, I said, 'All of it.'"

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