A human explains to their havenworlder crewmates about how they used to compete into the internationally famous dog-sled race known as the Iditarod. And how much fun that was! :-)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditarod_Trail_Sled_Dog_Race -- Anon Guest
"I think I understand the concept as a means of alternative transit," said Gorx, Havenworlder tourist. "I understand the competitive nature of Humans." It was hard not to understand that through the multitude of examples.
"So what's missing?" asked Human Roq, their guide.
"Why do you keep doing it?"
"Uhh... we think it's fun?" said Human Roq. "I've done the run in the amateur month. It's like racing through history but with medical intervention if you flakk up."
Grox slowly turned to examine their guide. They were telling the truth, and smiling about it. That was mind-boggling on its own, but the nested information inside Roq's statement almost stunned them.
Fact: There was an ameteur month for untrained people to try running the race themselves
Fact: Other humans expected the amateurs to get something wrong and wind up in trouble to the point where they needed medical assistance.
Fact: Terrans enjoyed this.
"They allow untrained people to run this race for an entire month?"
"That's a Terran month, not a Standard one," said Human Roq, as is that made it better. "They stagger the entrants over the first couple of weeks and scoop up anyone who's still lagging after the last day, it's fine."
Humans had a ludicrous definition of "fine" in Gorx's opinion. They needed a minute to absorb this fully.
"You allow complete novices to run this race."
"Yeah, the dogs do all the work. Mechanically speaking, the human is ballast that steers once in a while."
"Ballast," echoed Gorx.
"Yeah, there's even sleds that'll do steering for you if you just want to experience the ride without worrying about how to actually handle a sled. There's safety harnesses and everything."
Gorx stared some more. The Human was completely serious. Any second now, they were going to ask if Gorx wanted to try it out.
"Ameteur month starts in a couple of days," said Human Roq, "The signup sheet's at the info booth if you wanna..."
"Thank you," sighed Gorx. "I am satisfied with observation."
An observation session that featured a very small child as one of the ameteur racers. The child hung from the safety harnesses more than clung to the frame and knew enough to say "Mush!" to the team of dogs possibly older than they were.
The surrounding Humans thought this was cute.
Proof positive. Humans were insane.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / kadmy]
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