About DeeDee Jonrowe...

DeeDee Jonrowe was born in Frankfurt Germany in 1953 while her father was stationed in Greece. Growing up in a military family, she began elementary school in Ethiopia, attended junior high school in Okinawa, Japan, and graduated from high school in Virginia. The military brought the Stout family to Alaska in 1971. DeeDee enrolled in the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, where she earned a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences & Renewable Resources. She worked as a biologist for the State of Alaska for 10 years. Her thirst for adventure encouraged her to strike out, commercial fishing her own herring gill net boat in Norton Sound, fishing for red salmon in Bristol Bay, and eventually driving a 28 foot jet boat in Southcentral as a sport fishing guide. Her present occupation is kennel owner and dog racer.

She began mushing in 1979 and became interested in the Iditarod after her mother, Peg, shared her interest in the race while DeeDee lived in Bethel, Alaska.
DeeDee says, "I have had many successes and disappointments in the past 20+ years but one element has remained consistent. I have always tried to do my very best and I have always enjoyed the special bond and love that I have shared with my dogs. It has been my privilege to share this unique experience with the volunteers and race fans.”
DeeDee has won numerous awards for the care of her dogs throughout her career, including the best-cared for team, the best dog care award (given by staff veterinarians), the dog's best friend award, and the Iditarod’s Alaska Airlines Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian Award for excellence in dog care. Because her dogs are a top priority, she became a founding member of Mush with PRIDE, which provides responsible information of a dog's environment, exhibiting her commitment to set the standards for all aspects of sled dog care.

She especially enjoys cross country skiing, Labrador retrievers, running, in-line skating, Ragdoll cats, horses, and recently has developed a passion for her small flock of laying hens. DeeDee is married to husband, Mike, who helps extensively in her training season.
DeeDee Jonrowe is the foremost female dog musher competing in the world today. She has both the fastest time of any woman in the history of the Iditarod and 14 top ten finishes in her career. Her second place finish in 1998 was the fifth fastest Iditarod time ever recorded at that point. In addition to the Iditarod, DeeDee has competed and won most major dog sledding races throughout her career, including the Copper Basin 300, Klondike 300 and the John Beargrease sled dog marathon.

DeeDee ran her first Iditarod in 1980 and soon undertook a comprehensive breeding and training program for her dogs, and a rigorous physical fitness program for herself. By the time DeeDee and her team undertake the Iditarod in March of each year, they have logged over 2000 miles of training together.

Her highly publicized battle with breast cancer that she began in 2002 has seen her become a tireless fundraiser. In 2003 she became an honorary chairperson for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, assisting the organization in its fundraising efforts as well. DeeDee's humanitarian efforts have been well-documented, having been given the YWCA's "Alaska Woman of Achievement of Award", the most inspirational musher award, and even as the spokesperson for the National Girl Scouts Council and Winter Special Olympics.
DeeDee has been profiled in such media outlets as Sports Illustrated, Redbook, and Outside magazines. She is a published author, and is currently pending another book profiling her comeback from cancer to race again.

Although DeeDee has run in and won many dog sled races, the world renowned Iditarod is the race for which she is best known.

LIFE’S HARDSHIPS
DeeDee is no stranger to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual challenges that life can bring. Her first major experience came in October of 1996, when she was involved in a fatal car accident which claimed the life of her grandmother, and left husband Mike and her with life-threatening injuries. DeeDee was trapped in a car, next to her now deceased grandmother, at a frigid temperature of -20. In the back of the car, DeeDee could hear the groans of her dear husband. The Jaws of Life was needed to extricate her from the mangled vehicle, and a waiting ambulance took her over 60 miles to the nearest hospital. Emergency surgery repaired her ruptured intestine, and a lengthy recovery ensued. Dear friends and fellow mushers Susan Butcher and Roxy Wright helped train and keep her dog team in condition so that DeeDee was able to compete in the Iditarod in March 1997.

A few years later, DeeDee faced another huge challenge. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2002 and underwent a double mastectomy followed by months of harsh chemotherapy. Despite taking her last dose of chemo in January, she started the Iditarod four weeks later. It was nothing but sheer determination that got her across the finish line in 18th position in Nome that year.

Despite what has happened to her, DeeDee does not want to be known as a victim, but rather a survivor. When she speaks of the value of teamwork, persevering, or overcoming adversity, she speaks from experience.

“I am 5 1/2 year cancer survivor and doing well. It was quite a struggle. I have just entered my 27th Iditarod. I still enjoy it as much as the very first day. My strength is in my faith. I do not understand why things happen like this but I believe it is an imperfect world, not the one God intended for us. The really good thing in this all is there are a lot of really tough and deep patients that have done this and we are all here to help each other because we need to do that. Whatever God gave you as a passion (the thing you would do if you won the lottery) try to allow yourself as much time in that area. Mine is my dogs and being outside. I sometimes felt like a burden to my family and friends but my dogs did not care, they love me however I look or feel. God used them to comfort me and keep me company when everyone else was busy. There are no easy roads in this journey. The one thing I remember is that the storm always clears up. It is still life-threatening all the same.”

IRONMAN ACCOLADES
DeeDee’s athletic involvement does not stop at being a professional dog sled racer. She is an advocate of living a healthy lifestyle no matter the season. Her love of running and bike riding led her to pursue a dream of competing in another venue. After months of hard training, DeeDee was able to compete in the October, 2006 running of the Ironman in Kona, Hawaii.

“As a competitor in the premier winter distance race, the Iditarod, for 24 years, I understand the challenges of such a physically demanding event,” said Jonrowe. “I am participating in the Ironman as an athlete and Iditarod musher, but also as a breast cancer survivor. Competing in the Ironman provides me with a unique opportunity to raise cancer awareness and to show that those dealing with illness or major setbacks in life can overcome them to do things they did not think possible.”

The Ironman World Championship in Kona is one of the most recognized triathlons in the world. It features approximately 1,500 competitors and consists of a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2-mile run. The Ironman is considered one of the most difficult endurance races in the world.

Since her diagnosis in 2002, Jonrowe has been a tireless advocate for breast cancer awareness and cancer patient care, through volunteer time and speaking engagements.
“As a cancer survivor, my passion is to help people navigate the journey, not just the medical process,” said Jonrowe.

A documentary film based on this experience, entitled “Ironwoman: The DeeDee Jonrowe Story”, won the 2007 Best of Photojournalism award with the Poynter Institute.