CANTWELL, Alaska --- Biola Alumni end up all around the world doing amazing things. Amanda Otto, a Biola Women's Soccer alumna, is no exception to this. Otto is currently training to race in the 2021 Iditarod. 

The Iditarod is a 1,000-mile dog sledding race through the stunning Alaskan wilderness. The Iditarod was created to celebrate Alaskan culture and the role dogs played in the settlement of the United States' 49th state. During that time period, dog mushers took similar journeys on a regular basis. Dog mushing is a sport that combines human and animal athleticism to thrive in frigid, difficult conditions.

Otto found her love for racing when she was only eight years old. She entered a mutt race with her Malamutes ... and won! Mushing took a backseat as Otto developed into an athlete herself, though dogs always played a huge role in her life. She came to Biola in 2012 to play soccer. She played all four years and captained the team to the NAIA National Tournament in 2015. 

During her senior year, she suffered a career-ending injury that forced her to stop playing the sport she loved. That bittersweet ending led her into the world of mushing, a venture she probably would not have pursued if soccer was still on the table. She currently resides at the Wolf's Den Kennel in Cantwell, Alaska where she is training to compete in qualifying races for the Iditarod under mentor and Iditarod veteran, Mike Santos. 

The Iditarod is no easy task. The race can take anywhere from 9-12 days to complete. And just like any sport, you need to train. Before racing in the Iditarod in 2021 Otto must qualify for it by completing two 300-mile races and a minimum of a 150-mile race. This January she is competing in the Knik 200, Copper Basin 300 and the Willow 300. 

Otto has a special bond with her dogs, they are her "family, Olympians, and teammates." Hence, as she trains for the Iditarod, her dogs' health and well-being are of the utmost importance to her. 

Otto says that "a huge part of mushing is learning to be self-sufficient with minimal resources, but even more so, learning to be proactive and improvise when there's an issue. You have to possess a sense of humor in this industry - and maybe some insanity - or you won't survive sleep deprivation and temperatures that can plummet to - 40 below." 

Otto expresses the need to know her dogs as individuals so she can play to their strengths or come alongside a weakness so the team can function at their peak. Dog mushing requires her full attention at all times. She is constantly checking feet, wrists, booties (nylon protection that goes over the dogs' paws) and monitoring caloric intake. 

Knowing which side of the trail has more snow pack determines which side of the sled she'll place her hook (a mechanism used for stopping...your brake doesn't stop 14 dogs on the end of your line.) Knowing a dog's normal stride helps her detect a sore shoulder or fatigue. Sled dogs are tough as nails and love what they do so it's up to Otto, the coach, to determine when one of her athletes needs to rest, feed, and hydrate. "In the fields of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind."  

Her role has been reversed since being a player at Biola. Now she is the coach and her dogs are her athletes. As their leader, she takes great pride in keeping her dogs happy and healthy. She told us that it isn't hard when they have Caribou to chase and miles of untouched wilderness to explore!

As Otto trains for the upcoming races, she says that dogs are incredibly perceptive creatures and as their leader, she must exhibit calm, assertive energy, but she certainly has pre-game jitters. Her goal is to have a clear vision and a full heart even when the trail gets tough. Otto says that, "as a leader, you cannot ask your followers to do something they've never done before or don't have confidence in - which is why we practice the way we play." 

She and her dogs are training hard now, so they will be prepared for what lies ahead. Though the journey ahead is long, Otto divulges that she is looking forward to simply going on an adventure with her dogs and having the ability to be a part of what they love to do — run. 

The love for running is the main trait that establishes a sled dog. It is the dogs' eager desire that inspires her every time they hit the trail. She says, "it's the same energy that coursed through my veins on the soccer field - that same thrill moments before the opening whistle."

During her time on the soccer field at Biola, Otto learned the value of teamwork. She learned "we are stronger together." Amanda has witnessed first hand the power of teamwork. A team can achieve what an individual could never accomplish alone - a bittersweet lesson that has shaped her perspective over the last few years. 

She and her dogs are stronger together they can accomplish what many people only dream about. It truly seems like a fairy tale at times. She says, "it's a tough lifestyle, but hands down the best job in the world."  

Most importantly, Biola has given her friends, coaches and professors who have supported her and prayed over her every step of the way. She is grateful to God, her family and friends because without them she wouldn't be where she is today. 

As Otto and her team continue to train hard for the Iditarod she says "I can't wait to be immersed in God's creation on this journey through the wilderness. I'm excited to see where my dogs will take me and what we accomplish together!"

To find out more about the Iditarod visit: https://iditarod.com
To check out Amanda Otto on Instagram visit: https://www.instagram.com/otto.upnorth/
You can also follow along with Amanda Otto's journey at www.amandaotto.com