Ceremonial start an exhilarating kick off to Iditarod 36
ANCHORAGE — As a cool breeze whipped the occasional flurry of snow through the steel and glass buildings of downtown, some 96 mushers, dogs and the usual throng of spectators bundled up a little more than usual to take part in the annual rite of late winter, Alaska’s version of March madness: The ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
It was about 13 Fahrenheit and blustery Saturday morning, excellent conditions for the dogs, and cooler than the typical sunny, calm weather that fans love but that can pose a risk of overheating for the four-legged athletes.
The goal today was simple: Run the 11-mile route that snakes through the city streets and parks, entertain their Iditariders, pose for photos, talk to reporters and — importantly — survive the day without any problems. As four-time champion Jeff King observed: “This is a race of attrition.” There will be enough of that by Monday morning when the teams climb into the tricky Alaska Range.
Iditariders get best seat in the house
King was taking a Make-A-Wish child in his sled, 10-year-old Elaine Strong of San Francisco, Calif. Strong has spina bifida and loves dogs. Every team ferried one of these Iditariders. For the most part, these people are ultra race fans, willing to bid several hundred or several thousand dollars to ride with a favorite musher for the first, un-timed, 11 miles through Anchorage. This year, the race also gave rides to several Iraq war veterans.
Some of these riders are return customers, caught by the same spirit that attracts mushers back year after year. “The first time I did it out of curiosity,” said Marty Vega, a rider from Eureka, Calif. Five years ago, she rode with Melanie Gould and something clicked in her brain when the team trotted off the city streets and into the trees. It seemed almost like a wilderness setting, and she was struck by the quiet padding of the dogs’ feet and the peacefulness of traveling this way. “Suddenly I got it. I understand why they’re doing it,” Vega said. It was a “eureka” moment for the Eureka resident, a shot to the heart that many, many people never have the opportunity or ability to experience. She’s been back every year since, along with her husband, Dan. Marty rode with Hans Gatt this year, and Dan went with Tom Roig of Ohio.
Mushers know exactly what Vega is talking about, and it’s the real reason they race dogs.
Quest dogs getting another shot
Lance Mackey said he expects to have as many as 10 of his 2008 Yukon Quest winning dogs in his team when he takes off from Willow Sunday morning. The ceremonial start was actually going to help him determine that; he hadn’t run his Quest finishers since they trotted into Whitehorse in first place a week and a half ago. The 11-mile jaunt through city streets would be his opportunity make that final call.
Likewise, Ken Anderson, a close second in the Quest this year, expects to have 15 Quest dogs on his Iditarod team, although some of those dogs were running with Julie Estey who scratched early in the Quest with a knee injury. Like Mackey, though, about 10 of Anderson’s own finishing Quest team should be in harness Sunday. He said it’s too soon to tell if the experiment — racing them 1,000 miles, in essence, to train them for the next 1,000 mile race — was a success. But Anderson said the experience has helped him, personally. “I feel more focused, more confident and more dialed in to the dogs, to racing and to the routines,” he said. “I also feel real confident in what the dogs can do.”
That’s a big plus. So many teams, race winners among them, experience a lull — a period of uninspired performance — relatively early on. It can occur near Rohn or around Nikolai. Many teams end up taking their 24-hour layover then. Interestingly, William Kleedehn said that his experience with 11 Yukon Quests has taught him to run right through those lulls. A rookie in the Iditarod, Kleedehn believes Iditarod mushers take their 24-hour layovers too soon. He said hopes to reach at least Ophir and hopefully Ruby before he takes his. And, no, Kleedehn said, he has no aspirations to be the top rookie. He’s running a young team and wants to see if he likes the trail while keeping his team happy all the way to Nome. That would set him up to race it in 2010.
Race prediction update
I accidentally omitted Gerry Willomitzer from my prediction of top 20 finishers. He ran as a rookie last year with young dogs and said his team this year is right where they need to be to race. He will be racing this year, not sight-seeing. His team looked muscled, intense and just gorgeous as they lunged into their harnesses along Fourth Avenue.
One of Willomitzer’s neighbors from Whitehorse, Yukon, also had a steely look in his eye. Hans Gatt said he’s here to win. Period. Gatt has dominated stage racing, then the Yukon Quest as a three-time champion, but has not reached his potential in the Iditarod. His highest finish is 12th, which is very good. But you always got the sense he could do better, and he’s been obviously frustrated with the Iditarod over the years. This could be the year.
Jessie Royer, too, is looking to do better. Her dogs got sick last year and being a good steward of her dogs, she eased back and coasted to the finish line in 21st. She’s been running longer miles in training, and hopes that translates into being near the front of the pack as teams cross the Alaska Range. All the mushers are concerned with trail conditions through there. The farther back they are, the greater risk of the steep descents being rutted and chewed up by brake teeth.