Dr. Phil Meyer exams one of the athletes Katie Deits will run in the Jr. Iditarod.

When I’m asked when does Iditarod start, I reply the last Saturday of February.  Folks in the know would try to correct me, saying Iditarod begins the first Saturday of March.  But for me, because I work as the starter/timer for the Jr. Iditarod, the whole Iditarod scene begins to unfold with the Jr. race.  Jr. Iditarod is celebrating it’s fortieth anniversary at the start of the race tomorrow.  The young mushers brought their canine athletes to Iditarod Headquarters today for vet check.  Tonight they will have their musher meeting to draw bib numbers.  The race begins at 10:00 on the last Saturday of February.