Iditarod Race Updates and Coverage--Ultimate Iditarod

What a day!! Temperature in the 20's. High clouds with some sunbreaks. Plenty of snow for good trail.

The Iditarod has officially started. Sixty four teams lined up on 4th Avenue in Anchorage for the 30th running of the Greatest Race on Earth. Everyone looked great: dogs, mushers, volunteers. Everyone was very eager to get going. And all went smoothly.

This first leg of the race covers about twenty miles, and goes to Eagle River. The city of Anchorage brings snow back onto the streets, and grooms very serviceable trails--a HUGE undertaking. It allows the race to start where thousands of people can watch from just a few feet away. Many folks come right to the starting line. But many more pick spots along the trail, perhaps closer to home, or where parking is easier. All the mushers look forward to the "muffin place", where a family makes muffins for all the mushers, and hands them to them as they fly by. This has been going on for years. The kids all beg for a bootie to be thrown to them as a souvenir. Most mushers carry a bagful of used booties just for this reason, and it's great fun to be able to grant the youngsters' wish.

In recent years all the mushers carry a passenger from the starting line. These "Iditariders" bid on the chance to ride with their favorite musher, and the money taken in is put directly into the purse. The riders come from all over the continent. This year the rider in the first sled out was a policeman from New York City who survived the collapse of the World Trade Centers. He is a K9 policeman, and his dog/partner was killed in the disaster. So it was very special that he could be part of the race this year. The riders stay with the sled for about the first seven miles, and then they are dropped off, and brought back to town. You might think that the mushers would find this sort of activity to be a frustrating intrusion, interfering with their focus prior to such a big event. But I've observed that everyone seems to have great fun, and overall it seems to enhance the whole experience of the Iditarod.

Once the teams are off and running, they go along city streets for a few blocks, then through a school campus, then along the official sled dogs trails that are right within the city limits of Anchorage. Once out of town, the trail goes through Fort Richardson, an Army facility. And finally comes the beautiful town of Eagle River.

During this first leg of the race, and in addition to the Iditarider, all mushers are required to bring along a "handler"--someone who can help hold the team in case of any kind of emergency along the way. Most mushers choose to pull a second sled, also called a "trailer sled", or a "whip sled". Some carry the handler right on the runners with them. In that case the handler may get in the sled and ride when the Iditarider gets off.

This first leg of the race is not timed, so it does not "count" in the standings. Everyone understands that Saturday's events are largely ceremonial. The timing will start tomorrow when the teams line up in Wasilla for the "re-start". And tomorrow Tyrell and I will be off on our snowmobiles, following the race closely, and bringing more updates as fast as we can. So, stay tuned!!

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