Peter Reuter accomplished what was nearly a life-long dream when he crossed the finish line Saturday in the 45th Iditarod sled dog race across Alaska.

The 54-year-old who lives in both Alaska and Bloomingdale was the 63rd finisher to reach the “Burled Arch” in Nome, Alaska.

After opening the race on Saturday, March 4 with the 11-mile ceremonial start in Anchorage, Reuter and a field of 73 mushers kicked off their grueling journey across the interior of Alaska on March 6 in Fairbanks. From there, teams followed a northern route to Nome, stopping at 15 checkpoints along the way.

In his first attempt at the Iditarod, Reuter reached the finish line in Nome in 12 days, 2 hours, 45 minutes and 38 seconds.

He began the Iditarod with 16 dogs and reached the finish line with a gritty group of nine frosty canines. The race covered a distance of 979 miles.

A total of 64 teams finished the race, with eight dropping out along the way.