Bill Gallea for UltimateIditarod

Jeff King is greeted by an impromptu song and dance courtesy of family and friends this morning in Nome

JEFF KING
GRANDPA JIM WAITS


JEFF KING

Jeff King finished in third place this morning at a mighty civilized hour for a dog musher. His 11 superstars trotted up the chute at about 9:15 AM. The crowd of well-wishers clapped enthusiastically, in spite of holding their latte’s from the Trading Post, located right even with the finishing chute. The top of the stairway leading into the Trading Post/Espresso Stand provided a great platform for me to photograph Jeff’s family and friends performing their impromptu skit.

Jeff’s wife, Donna Gates King, told me that the group of greeters came up with a limerick, put it to a rap beat, and practiced their dance all within the time it took Jeff to mush in the last three miles to Nome. The big challenge was to outdo their skit last year, when all the girls painted a letter on their tummies, and stood side by side, flashing their midriffs as Jeff entered the chute, spelling out: “Go Jeff”.

To most onlookers, Jeff’s dogs looked the perkiest of the three finishing teams so far. This has been true throughout the entire Race. Some people have wondered out loud why Jeff didn’t try to do what Ramy Brooks did: to shorten each rest just a bit, and try to catch up, and maybe pass the swift Norwegian team of Robert Sorlie.

I had the privilege of traveling with Donna throughout much of the Race. She wanted to come out on the trail not so much to follow her husband, Jeff, as her daughter, Cali. But this gave us the opportunity to talk often, and at some length. And this gave me a special insight into how Jeff trains and races, and why he is such a hero to Alaskans, and non-Alaskans alike.

This week in Nome, Fat Freddies is THE place to be. Here Jeff King has breakfast with family and sponsors, after completing Iditarod XXXI

Grandpa Jim says ‘hurry up, so Grandma Ev can quit worrying

Jeff was steadfastly unwilling to alter his original race plan, which was carefully crafted to get to Nome in the fastest possible time, while still maintaining the vitality in his team. He felt that if this plan put his dogs in Nome as the No.3 team, then that was the way it should work out. He was not willing to step over a certain line, and go beyond what he had trained his dogs to do. To some armchair mushers that might signify weakness, or lack of desire to win. But no one who knows Jeff King would believe that.

Jeff’s desire to win is still strong, but he doesn’t have to prove that he’s a winner — that;s established. My sense is that for Jeff, the journey is more important than the destination. And Jeff’s journey on this Iditarod XXXI was certainly one to be proud of.


GRANDPA JIM WAITS

This morning at the chute, I ran into Jim Huffman, from Gaylord, MN. Jim is Cindy’s dad, and Jim’s grandpa. This is his fourth time in Nome. He’s been here a couple days already, checking out the Arts and Crafts Fair, and the great basketball played at the Nome Iditarod Invitational Basketball Tournament.

I asked him if he had anything to say for Jim and Tyrell’s website. He said there were two things. First: “tell Cindy and Jim to hurry up, and get here!!” Second: “say HI to Tricks back home”.