It's been a very exciting couple of days since my last post, race fans, and I'm terribly sorry for leaving you to your own devices! But as far as I could tell, nearly every major news outlet had some sort of update on the "last great race" out there, so I know there was plenty to see and read without my lengthy ramblings.
But nothing focuses on your favorite mushers quite like this Mad Blogger, so let's get back up to speed.
First things first, a huge congratulations to Brent Sass and the amazing eleven dogs that guided his sled into Nome early Tuesday morning to win the 50th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Brent is a very accomplished musher, but this is his first time winning Iditarod. He did so this year after 8 days, 14 hours, 38:43 minutes out on the trail. Although not quite enough to top the fastest finish in history, it was a very impressive time in its own right.
Second things second, we had Dallas Seavey running with 7 dogs under the burled arch at the finish only a little more than an hour behind Brent. While I know Dallas had his eye on his 6th championship and the claim of being the winningest Iditarod musher in its history, he has every right to be proud of himself and his dogs for a most respectable 2nd place finish. Plus, only Brent and Dallas finished the race this year with an 8-day handle.
The remainder of our top 8 mushers trickled into Nome over the course of the day Tuesday. Ryan Redington, grandson of the race's founder, was the first to arrive just after midnight early Wednesday morning claiming 9th place. Aaron Peck rounded out our top 10 this year with prior champion Joar Leifseth Ulsom arriving in 11th place before 8am Wednesday morning.
There are still only 5 scratches from the race this year, leaving us 33 mushers still making their way to Nome.
Key amongst them, of course, are Anna and Kristy. We last left them resting in Unalakleet (race mile 714) Monday morning. They rested in checkpoint for about five and a half hours before setting off again around 10:30am Monday. Kristy ended up returning two more dogs from Una, leaving 7 dogs in front of her sled. Anna pulled out with her remaining 11 dogs.
You might have expected Anna to pull away from her twin given the 4 dog differential in their teams. And I know Kristy would not have held her back from doing so. But that's just not really how these two operate. For as strong as they are individually, they're even stronger together. Yes, they're individual competitors in this event, caring for their own dedicated dog teams and mushing their own sleds. But never underestimate the power of emotional support, of simply being together with your best friend and sister out there on the trail. Nothing prevents one from giving the other an encouraging hug, or an opinion on a dog or the race plan. No rules were violated when Kristy hung back at mile 50 so Anna could rig up a fix for her broken runner, nor when Anna led the way hundreds of miles later across the sea ice first so Kristy's team could benefit from a little drag. Race commentators often lament that the twins should focus on putting together one A-team and really go for the gold... but I don't necessarily agree. The fact that they go out there and do this together year after year after year, with excellent dog care and smiles on their faces, is what truly makes them winners.
The twins spent 5 hours 45 minutes mushing the 40 miles to Shaktoolik, arriving Monday afternoon. It was a long, windy, icy, difficult slog up this first section of Norton Bay coastline. When the twins got into Shak (race mile 754), I think they were both getting a little down. It was a while since their 24, the trail was ugly, the hope of a top 20 finish becoming far more elusive. I think you can imagine how all of that can take a toll. So, they did what I consider a smart thing - they took a good long 9 hour rest. And I think that did the trick! They hit the trail again at 1:15am Tuesday morning bound for Koyuk.
They arrived in Koyuk a little after 7am on Tuesday and rested in checkpoint for less than 6 hours before pulling their snow hooks before 1pm. The next five and a half hours were spent on the 48 miles to Elim (race mile 852), where they arrived a little before 6:30pm Tuesday evening. Once again, they spent less than 6 hours resting before moving on. It was 10 minutes after midnight Wednesday morning when they called to their dogs, "Ready, All Right" and moved off into the dark and cold.
Six hours later, just after 6am Wednesday morning, Seeing Double arrived in White Mountain, race mile 953, and the last planned stop of any substance before they finish. They arrived in 23rd (Kristy) and 24th (Anna) place.
And now esteemed Seeing Double fans, it's prediction time. When do you need to be in front of the Iditarod live feed to witness Anna and Kristy finish?!
They will spend their required 8 hours in White Mountain, but hopefully not a minute more. So they should hit the trail again at 2:08pm Alaska time Wednesday afternoon. I think they'll need 6 1/2 hours to mush the 55 miles to Safety, only a couple minutes there to grab their race bibs and maybe extra dog snacks, and then I'll say another 3 - 3 1/2 hours to cover the final 22 miles to Nome. Well folks, looks like many of us will be setting alarms for the middle of the night. I think we'll be Seeing Double at the finish on either side of midnight Wednesday into Thursday.
Hey - Don't Blame the Mad Blogger! I'll just be glad to see them finish. Won't you?!
But nothing focuses on your favorite mushers quite like this Mad Blogger, so let's get back up to speed.
First things first, a huge congratulations to Brent Sass and the amazing eleven dogs that guided his sled into Nome early Tuesday morning to win the 50th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Brent is a very accomplished musher, but this is his first time winning Iditarod. He did so this year after 8 days, 14 hours, 38:43 minutes out on the trail. Although not quite enough to top the fastest finish in history, it was a very impressive time in its own right.
Second things second, we had Dallas Seavey running with 7 dogs under the burled arch at the finish only a little more than an hour behind Brent. While I know Dallas had his eye on his 6th championship and the claim of being the winningest Iditarod musher in its history, he has every right to be proud of himself and his dogs for a most respectable 2nd place finish. Plus, only Brent and Dallas finished the race this year with an 8-day handle.
The remainder of our top 8 mushers trickled into Nome over the course of the day Tuesday. Ryan Redington, grandson of the race's founder, was the first to arrive just after midnight early Wednesday morning claiming 9th place. Aaron Peck rounded out our top 10 this year with prior champion Joar Leifseth Ulsom arriving in 11th place before 8am Wednesday morning.
There are still only 5 scratches from the race this year, leaving us 33 mushers still making their way to Nome.
Key amongst them, of course, are Anna and Kristy. We last left them resting in Unalakleet (race mile 714) Monday morning. They rested in checkpoint for about five and a half hours before setting off again around 10:30am Monday. Kristy ended up returning two more dogs from Una, leaving 7 dogs in front of her sled. Anna pulled out with her remaining 11 dogs.
You might have expected Anna to pull away from her twin given the 4 dog differential in their teams. And I know Kristy would not have held her back from doing so. But that's just not really how these two operate. For as strong as they are individually, they're even stronger together. Yes, they're individual competitors in this event, caring for their own dedicated dog teams and mushing their own sleds. But never underestimate the power of emotional support, of simply being together with your best friend and sister out there on the trail. Nothing prevents one from giving the other an encouraging hug, or an opinion on a dog or the race plan. No rules were violated when Kristy hung back at mile 50 so Anna could rig up a fix for her broken runner, nor when Anna led the way hundreds of miles later across the sea ice first so Kristy's team could benefit from a little drag. Race commentators often lament that the twins should focus on putting together one A-team and really go for the gold... but I don't necessarily agree. The fact that they go out there and do this together year after year after year, with excellent dog care and smiles on their faces, is what truly makes them winners.
The twins spent 5 hours 45 minutes mushing the 40 miles to Shaktoolik, arriving Monday afternoon. It was a long, windy, icy, difficult slog up this first section of Norton Bay coastline. When the twins got into Shak (race mile 754), I think they were both getting a little down. It was a while since their 24, the trail was ugly, the hope of a top 20 finish becoming far more elusive. I think you can imagine how all of that can take a toll. So, they did what I consider a smart thing - they took a good long 9 hour rest. And I think that did the trick! They hit the trail again at 1:15am Tuesday morning bound for Koyuk.
They arrived in Koyuk a little after 7am on Tuesday and rested in checkpoint for less than 6 hours before pulling their snow hooks before 1pm. The next five and a half hours were spent on the 48 miles to Elim (race mile 852), where they arrived a little before 6:30pm Tuesday evening. Once again, they spent less than 6 hours resting before moving on. It was 10 minutes after midnight Wednesday morning when they called to their dogs, "Ready, All Right" and moved off into the dark and cold.
Six hours later, just after 6am Wednesday morning, Seeing Double arrived in White Mountain, race mile 953, and the last planned stop of any substance before they finish. They arrived in 23rd (Kristy) and 24th (Anna) place.
And now esteemed Seeing Double fans, it's prediction time. When do you need to be in front of the Iditarod live feed to witness Anna and Kristy finish?!
They will spend their required 8 hours in White Mountain, but hopefully not a minute more. So they should hit the trail again at 2:08pm Alaska time Wednesday afternoon. I think they'll need 6 1/2 hours to mush the 55 miles to Safety, only a couple minutes there to grab their race bibs and maybe extra dog snacks, and then I'll say another 3 - 3 1/2 hours to cover the final 22 miles to Nome. Well folks, looks like many of us will be setting alarms for the middle of the night. I think we'll be Seeing Double at the finish on either side of midnight Wednesday into Thursday.
Hey - Don't Blame the Mad Blogger! I'll just be glad to see them finish. Won't you?!
 Hey! It's Barb from Anna's team. Pictured here in White Mt, it looks like Barb will Go. All. The. Way! |  Nasty ice highway along Norton Bay. |
Anna (left) and Kristy get interviewed by Iditarod Insider in Koyuk.
