ID: Sunday Morning Update

Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I sure didn't sleep last night.  I went back and forth between worrying about Aliy and the dogs to worrying that we wouldn't make it out to Nome in time to see her come in.  Now that I've taken a few deep breaths and eaten something, I'm worrying about Aliy and the dogs and pretty sure we will make it to Nome in time.

There is a lot a speculation going on about what is happening in the race, but this is what we know.  The trail is very tough and in poor condition.  Aliy is in the lead heading from Shaktoolik to Koyuk.  Jeff King is showing slightly faster times and has closed the gap over the last two runs.  The Red Team has had substantially more rest since Kaltag than the teams around her.

This is what we have heard.  The front runners are on pace to break the record to Nome.  The Red Team looks great.  Aliy looked great in Unalakleet, but had a rough run to Shaktoolik.  She told Sebastian that she caught her foot in a ice hole and may have hurt her leg. 

We have been doing all types of calculations, trying to figure out when the Red Team will arrive in White Mountain and then into Nome.  The actual distances between checkpoints vary from year to year.  Using the smallest reported distance and an average speed of 7.5 mph, it is possible Aliy will arrive in White Mountain as early as 6 am Monday Morning.  That would have her out on the final leg to Nome at 2pm Monday afternoon and into Nome about Midnight.  However, the biggest thing to remember at this point is that there is a lot of race left.  Anything can happen over the next 200 miles to Nome. 

As always, Sebastian has been getting some great pictures.  Click on them to go to his articles.

http://iditarod.com/musher/aliy-zirkle-1st-into-shaktoolik/
Aliy Checking into Shaktoolik
 
http://iditarod.com/musher/aliy-zirkle-caring-for-her-team-in-shaktoolik/
Aliy taking care of her dogs in Shaktoolik
 
Allen and the Black Team have arrived in Kaltag.  He arrived at 8:59 am after a good run from Nulato.  Hopefully Meghan and Moira will be able to see him in Unalakleet before they head to Nome.