Mitch Seavey has just pulled into Shaktoolik and he is staying for a while. It’s a piercing cold northeast wind outside. I am sure he is glad to get out of the wind for a bit. They just pulled his dog team behind the old National Guard building. Earlier this morning a local named Paul introduced himself: ” I was the last guardsman here, I broke my arm, lost my teeth, it was a good time “. 

Mitch Seavey and Dallas Seavey are once again leading the race. For now the elder leading the younger. Dallas is about 2 miles out. Looking back at the race and what happened to the early race leaders. Ketil Reitan who was the first team into Skwentna, did quite a bit damage to his team right there with doing that run too fast. He is now struggling with 7 dogs back in Kaltag. Hugh Neff who did one very long run into Finger Lake right from the start, saw his team shrink to 10 dog by Cripple and is trying to hold a place in the Top 20. Lance Mackey who was the 1^st team out of Rohn is currently running in 64^th position. Being for 5 years now behind the camera and watching things unfold, it has become clearer than ever how important it is for a musher to start the race very conservatively. It is almost impossible to go too slow at the beginning of the race. From Nikolai to the Yukon River is “ team building time “ and down the Yukon River to Unalakeet is “ team positioning time “ From Unalakleet on, it comes down to true race time. That makes things very difficult for the mushers pushing for win. Right at the end, when they are the most tired, the most fierce racing, with the shortest rests begins. If they drive a strong time, like Mitch currently does, it seems to be fun. Mitch was still enjoying himself in Unalakleet. I can well remember out of my old racing days, “ hitting the wall in Unk “ and needing extra rest, not necessarily for the dogs, more for myself. None of these lead teams can afford such luxury.