The only woman to win the Yukon Quest, Zirkle was a perennial contender in the Iditarod with seven top-10 finishes in an eight-year span. She was the runnerup three years in a row (2012-14), gaining fans along the way by showing good sportsmanship and grace. Zirkle is a six-time winner of the Leonard Seppala Humanitarian Award, a coveted award decided by race veterinarians in recognition of outstanding dog care. Zirkle, of Two Rivers, retired in 2021 after 20 races.