Libby here!
Hello Boys and Girls,
I hope you have had time to go to the musher listing page and see all of the mushers who have signed up for this year’s Iditarod. If not, go to the link that you will find after my name, and you can visit that part of the website.
When you look at the musher listing, you can see that a few mushers have already withdrawn from the race. Are you wondering what that means? My job as reporter is to help you with the ‘little details’ that you need to know. I will help you understand what a withdraw before the start of the race means.
When a musher withdraws before the start of the race, the musher has decided not to race this year.
Reasons for this decision can be a personal reason like the health of a musher, concerns about money or sponsorship, or not enough trained dogs to run the race. The Iditarod website does not usually give you a reason why a musher withdraws but you can be sure that the musher made the decision for a good reason.
One thing you can do is make a list of good reasons that a musher can have to make a decision to withdraw. Then, think about good reasons that you might have when you or your family have to stop doing something.
Just Spinning de ‘tails’,
Libby
Follow this link to the musher listing.
Leave us comments or questions about reasons for withdrawing. Share your thoughts with us!
25 Comments
how many people could win the race??
There is going to only be ONE winner, the first one to Nome. But everyone who finishes has met many challenges and goals.
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
Love the new picture, Libby! It’s so cute! It makes me happy.
Thank you for explaining the “nitty gritty” of withdrawing. I’ve often wondered what that meant *exactly*. You and the other K-9 reporters do a great job of keeping us informed!
How many days does it take to finish the race? Thank you!
The race ends when the last musher finishes the race. Front runners arrive in 9 or 10 days. Others may arrive days later. That is why you have to keep watching the site every day! Lots of Tail Wags, Zuma
libby is so cute
Zuma are u a boy or girl?? we are excited to watch the race and learn about the iditarod and Alaska…. please write back… we’re from Haverhill , Ma… Greenleaf Elementary… home of the Greenleaf Tigers!
Hi, I’m a girl. Hope you enjoy the race. Write back and let me know what you’re doing to follow the race.
Thanks for writing.
I teach kindergarten in South Dakota. I am new at this site. I do not have outlook express. Is there another way to contact you other than Outlook Express?
Yes, you’ve just contacted us!
Please ask your questions!
Lots of Tail Wags,
Zuma
how many feet is the race
I’m going to let you figure that out. Total distance of this years race is 1112 miles. There is 5280 feet in a mile. So multiply 1112 by 5280. If you need help, I’m sure your teacher or parent will be happy to help you. That’s a big number to multiply.
how many days does it take?
All racers should be in Nome between 8 and 15 days.
what is the name of the sled
Mushers use different brands of sleds.
how long do the dogs live?
Dogs live to different ages.
How many booties do you go through in one day?
That’s a good questions. The answer varies. It will depend on how many miles are traveled, the trail conditions, and how many dogs are using booties. I know this doesn’t really answer your question but there is not an exact answer.
how many dogs are attached to the the sled?
howmany raceres are there?
Most mushers leave with 16 dogs. There are 71 racers this year
which musher is in first
You can see who’s in first by going to
http://www.iditarod.com/race/race/currentstandings.html
How long dose it take to make a boodey?
How much sentimeeters is the track?
Which musher is in first?
How many mushers are inthe race?
My human makes booties so I asked her. She doesn’t sew one bootie at a time. She will 100-200 but cutting them all out first, then sewing the side seam on all of them, etc. She figures it takes about 3 hours to do 100.
The race this year is 1112 miles. I bet you can figure out how many centimeters that is.
You can track the race and see where everyone is by going to:
http://www.iditarod.com/race/race/currentstandings.html
There are 71 mushers in the race this year.
Thanks for writing and have fun following the race.
Zuma-
what is your favorite musher
Dear Libby,
We are kindergartners in Watertown, SD. We have many questions:What kind of food do you like to eat? Do you like to ride on dog sleds? Who is your favorite musher? Do you get to play with the sled dogs? We are excited to hear back from you.
Mrs. Hoff’s 15 students
Hi Mrs. Hoff’s students, You can read all about me by going to: http://iditarodblogs.com/zuma/meet-the-reporters/who-am-i-libby/
Since I report on the race, I don’t pick a favorite. I sure would like to play with the sled dogs, but they are very focused on the race. Have a great time following the race.
Dear Libby,
Hi my name is sarah and my brother ben. I am 7 and ben is 5. my birthday is 5-15-02 and bens is 5-8-05. When is your birthday?I amgoing to school with my brother at ST. Josephs Paerish.I live in Buxton Maine. It is almost time to say bye but I just want to say you are so brave.Pleace write back BYE!
I was born on the 4th of July. Dawn of Liberty is my full name…. You can read more about me by clicking Meet the K9 Journalists along the left side of this page. (Meet and Learn About Libby.) Read about the other reporters, too.
Libby
Hi Libby Littles,
Two of the mushers I picked chose to drop out. I had to pick three mushers so far the musher I have now is Michelle Phillips!! She was in 6th place but went down to 29th. So I am sad theat she moved down. I am in forth grade. My name is Hannah.
Your Friend,
Hannah
Dear LIBBY LITTLE my guy is in ophir in 55th place. i picked you because you are so CUTE.
Hi this is sarah and ben thanks for writing back.BYE!
your welcome.
i have learned so much about the iditarod from you! thanks so much libby! love jenna
I like your website. I can’t beleve you were born on the 4th of July!
Libby you look cute and nice in your picter
Libby,
Everybody in my class at school picked a musher to follow in the Iditarod race. I picked Judy Currier. She dropped out of the race which I guess means withdraw. Anyway…I am very sad because she withdrawed from the race
Dear Libby,
We found a photo online of a big dog sitting on a couch. We thought it was you, but we are not sure and think it is too big of dog and the wrong color. Who is it?
Mrs. Hoff’s Kindergartners
I’m not sure what photo you saw. Is it on our blog? I’m a tiny dog so if it was a big dog, it’s not me.