Post Ride Chat: Jill Martindale - Iditarod Trail

Host Neil Beltchenko recently sat down with Jill Martindale, co-winner of the 2020 Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI). Jill is only the 10th woman finisher and the first woman to win the ITI 1000. She crossed the finish line with Peter Ineman and Casey Fagerquist in a total time of 22 days, 7 hours, and 30 minutes. In this interview, Jill talks about how she got into cycling, some tricks she used to get to this point, and some struggles from the trail this year, including deep snow and a global pandemic. She shares details of her experiences at checkpoints, meeting the dogs and mushers of the Iditarod Trail, some of her high and low moments, and of course food and how she stopped being a vegetarian just for this race.
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Hosted by Neil Beltchenko
Music by Ben Weaver (benweaver.net)
More at bikepacking.com

[@ericcochrane7130]

Jill is a local hero here in Grand Rapids! Love both your beer choices.

[@yotersmitt]

If you're never invited to Alaska, it's because you're always welcome! Love hearing these stories! Keep 'em coming!

[@AdventuresWithUnkadee]

Excellent on both sides.

[@petercolejr1]

So rad, so inspiring. Both really nice people that are huge contributors to bikepacking and always willing to share advice. This year’s conditions at ITI looked gnarly. I can’t imagine hiking my bike for so long.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Thanks so much for the note Peter, I really do appreciate that. Jill is a super human on so many levels. It was a pleasure chatting with her.

[@sketchanderase]

Such a great interview. Great job, Jill! Totally agree on Petr as Hugh Jackman! :D

[@GeekonaBike]

This is so inspirational, I'll use this to get you past the dark times on the trail.
PS those dogs look like they would make great 'Resting" coaches

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Thanks for the note, I hope all is well with you. Any big plans once this all passes?