Iditarod 2011: Race Review

Click below to see a complete race review of the 2011 Iditarod, The Last Great Race on Earth.

http://iditarodblogs.com/news/files/2011/04/11-Post-Race-e_Runner.pdf

Iditarod 2011: At the Finish

John Baker after winning the 2011 Iditarod from Kyle Hopkins@adn.com on Vimeo.

John Baker gets my vote for Athlete of the Year for 2011. The Iditarod is called "The Last great Race," and it's more than that. I can't think of one of our world famous, highly paid, self-aggrandizing athletes in other sports who could endure what John Baker did during his run from Anchorage to Nome. They certainly wouldn't do it for $50,000 and a truck.

Iditarod 2011: John Baker Wins in Record Time

That's Native Alaskan John Baker, only the fourth native Alaskan to win the iditarod (the other three were in: 1974, 1975, and 1976) mushing along the trail (upper photo) and basking in the glow in Nome a little while ago.

The Anchorage Daily News has already posted the amazing details of the story on line. You can read it here. As the winner of this gruelling race, Baker takes home $50,000 and a new Dodge Truck, and don't expect him or any of the other mushers to threaten to strike if the purse for next year's race is not increased: it won't be, and they won't.

Iditarod 2011: John Baker Charging

John Baker, who has been leading this year's race since Eagle Island, was still in front when he left Koyuk this morning at 2:48 AM, Alaska time, 50 minutes ahead of Ramey Smyth.

To follow the remainder of the race, click on the below link, and put your cursor on the circle at each check point to see which mushers are there. They will be shown in the order of arrival at the check point (you may have to refresh the site).

http://www.adn.com/2011/02/03/1682745/iditarod-2011-map.html#checkpoint=24&tab=1

For an interesting background story on John Baker from the Anchorage Daily News, click here.

Iditarod 2011: No Clear Leader Yet

The Top 10 mushers have reached Eagle Island and only the front runner has left that check point. John Baker left Eagle Island at 4:05 this morning Alaska time with 13 dogs. Hugh Neff (12 dogs) and Lance Mackey (9 dogs) were less than an hour behind Baker reaching Eagle Island. All mushers start with 16 dogs, and are required to take two rest stops: one of 24 hours and one of 8 hours. The first seven mushers have all taken both mandatory rest stops.

Here's the map of the southern route so you can locate Eagle Island and see how far they still have to go.

Here's a video of Lance Mackey at the Anvik checkpoint opining that four-time winner Martin Buser is out of the race, and picking 61 year old Sonny Linder as the possible winner (assuming Mackey himself doesn't pull off a miracle with only 9 dogs).

Untitled from Kyle Hopkins on Vimeo.

Iditarod 2011: Five in a row for Mackey not likely

That's Lance Mackey who has won Iditarods four in a row, but if he wins his fifth this year it will be a miracle. He's down to 12 dogs and, although he moved into second place last night at the Takotna checkpoint, his chance of catching leader, Martin Buser, or holding off Sebastian Schnuelle, Hugh Neff and a few others is not looking good. He came in to Takotna more than an hour and a half behind Buser, who is also seeking his fifth Iditarod win (although not in a row), and Buser still has 15 dogs running.

Here is a listing of current standings, which might change by the time you click on to it as these mushers don't spend much time resting. If you click on the musher's name, you can see a photo and additional personal information about the musher.

Click here for a map of this year's southern route so you can see where Takotna is located.

To see the Leaderboard complete with photos of the mushers, click here.

Iditarod 2011 is underway

The Iditarod dog sled race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska started yesterday. As always, the ceremonial start took place in Anchorage the day before the official start in Willow. They left Willow yesterday and will travel the southern route since this is an odd numbered year.

For those not familiar with the race (which was the reason this Blog was created in March 2009), here is a post from back then about four-time winner Susan Butcher with an accompanying video about Susan and the Last Great Race on Earth.

You can follow the race, by using the link to the Iditarod website (above) or click on the website of the Anchorage Daily News.

Finally here is a map showing the checkpoints for the mushers on the way to Nome. Notice the southern route goes through the ghost town of Iditarod.


(Click to enlarge)