On September 19 2003, after a high profile public debate, the Iditarod Trail Committee made a landmark decision to unanimously approve Rachael's request for special accommodations that would allow her and her dog team to compete safely in the Iditarod. And, like any Iditarod musher, Rachael would first be required to successfully complete two Iditarod qualification races.
During the historic meeting, Rachael had satisfied the Committee that she possessed the skills and experience to deal with potential hazards on the trail and care for her dogs to the highest standards required by the race. Rachael would be allowed run the 1,150 mile continuous race and its qualifiers with a visual interpreter who, driving a second dog team and communicating via two-way radio, would ride ahead of Rachael to warn her of obstacles such as low hanging branches, broken ice and even moose on the trail. These are obstacles that a normally sighted musher would be able to see.
Rachael officially qualified for the 2005 Iditarod in March of 2004 by completing the two required qualifying races in very tough conditions. Rachael said, "I purposely chose the two toughest Iditarod qualifiers, The Race to the Sky and the Beargrease Marathon. By running these two extremely challenging races I knew I would be in a much better position to evaluate the dogs' and my strengths and weaknesses. I am so excited to now be preparing for the Iditarod."
Rachael went on to make history in 2005 as the first visually impaired athlete to compete in the Iditarod. But, despite successfully navigating the most treacherous sections of the Iditarod trail, Rachael’s race ended in disappointment. After reaching the Eagle Island checkpoint (732 miles into the 1,200 mile race), Rachael’s dog team showed signs of sickness, apparently having contracted a virus on the trail. After careful consideration, Rachael made the difficult decision to scratch based on the well being of her dogs.
Rachael's story of hope, courage, and determination has attracted national and international media attention, as well as thousands of messages of support from inspired people across the world. Rachael has been featured in numerous newspapers, magazines and national TV and Radio shows, including being recognized by Peter Jennings’ as ABC World News Tonight’s “Person of The Week”.
Rachael has also been formally honored by the Women's Sports Foundation, Oregon Commission for the Blind, The Goodwill Industries, The Foundation Fighting Blindness, National Association of Girls and Women in Sport, and The Perkins School for the Blind. In 2002, Rachael was selected by the United States Olympic Committee to carry the torch on its way to the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. In 2005, Rachael was the proud recipient of the Casey Martin Award, created by Nike in 2001 to recognize the efforts of athletes who, like PGA Tour Golfer Martin, have overcome physical, mental, societal or cultural challenges to excel in their sport, and advocate on behalf of other athletes facing similar challenges. The award included a $25,000 Nike grant to the beneficiary of the award recipient’s choice, which Rachael donated to the United States Association of Blind Athletes.
On Saturday, March 18th, 2006, Rachael realized her life long dream when she became the first legally blind athlete to finish the famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. After 12 days, 10 hours and 42 minutes on the trail, Rachael and her visual interpreter, Tim Osmar, passed beneath the wooden structure, known as the Burled Arch, which marks the finish line in Nome, Alaska. The duo finished in 56th and 57th place, and Rachael finished 7th out of the 20 rookies who started the race.
In partnership with Standard Insurance Company, Rachael’s 2006 Iditarod campaign raised more than $115,000 in donations to the United States Association of Blind Athletes for programs supporting participation opportunities for other visually impaired athletes. In 2006, Rachael’s achievement was recognized through her nomination for the ESPY award for Best Female Athlete with a Disability and by Glamour Magazine who honored Rachael as one of their Women of the Year at a star studded gala event at Carnegie Hall in New York City.