Julie Ahnen, “Realized I Was Having Fun on the Steps” (Photo by Insider)

From McGrath all the way up to Cripple teams will be on the move.  Possible by the very wee hours of the morning, somebody will be the first team to reach the Yukon River checkpoint of Ruby.  Dan Carter, the race judge out at Cripple said they were expecting a ton of activity tonight.  Brent Sass, taking his 24-hour break will be eligible to leave yet this evening followed about 3 hours later by Dallas.  After Dallas departs, Hugh, Ryan and Mitch will leave about an hour apart.  Hugh is in an interesting position being bib number 50.  He won’t have any time added for start differential.

As teams exit Cripple, the teams arriving from Ophir will push the checkpoint staff into high gear.  There are twenty teams who are making the run to Cripple.  The first thing Brent Sass commented on when he arrived in Cripple was the mashed potato trail.  In other words, it was soft.  From tracker it looks like teams are running in the 5-6 mph range which indicates they are also experiencing a soft/punchy trail.  Although, Hanna Lyrek the rookie from Norway popped up on the tracker moving at 10.3 mph and Jeff King’s speed was slightly above 9 mph.  Could be that the trail is setting up as the day wears on helped by the freezing drizzle and falling temperatures.

Aaron Burmeister is running a very conservative race at this point.  He’s saving energy for the coast.  Aaron was planning to go to Ophir for his rest but once he was in McGrath he changed his mind.  His team came into McGrath strong and energetic but he didn’t feel the same so he decided to stayed put. 

Coming off his 24, Burmeister had a great run to Ophir that he called almost magical.  Wanting to keep that magic in the dogs, he chose to rest for three hours in Ophir explaining that it’s best to run easy after the 24 hour break.   Insider video of Burmeister leaving Ophir showed a team of enthusiastic dogs – barking and lunging and excited to go.  They will be further buoyed as the temps fall into the evening hours.

Sass will depart Cripple just before Burmeister arrives.  Of course, Aaron will rest his team in Cripple and it’s likely that one or some of the 24-hour gang from Cripple will depart before he heads to Ruby.  What does this all mean?  Yes, Sass is in the lead but they are all within striking distance.

Bruce Lee, Insider Analyst offers great insight into the race standings and is very good at keeping the mystery of who might win alive.  He’s said that the two best teams he saw in Rohn belonged to Brent Sass and Dallas Seavey.  They demonstrated attributes of strength, attitude and power that none of the other teams matched. 

Lee has also talked to Brent Sass on a number of occasions noting that Brent has a very hungry look in his eyes.  He’s very focused and is running his own race.  Brent admits that back in the early days of his racing career he was guilty of reacting to the moves his competitors made while on the trail.  Having gained much confidence in his own ability to strategize, he’s overcome that.  He has a race plan and he sticks with it as much as trail conditions and weather allow.

Sebastian Dos Santos Borges is Prepared for “Wet” Weather With a Tent (Photo by Insider)

Here are a few fun notes gleaned from the Insider video clips of Thursday.

Martin Buser – My dogs are like my kids.  The line between human and K9 becomes blurred.  Like the Old Spirit of Alaska award with the face that was half human and half dog, the spirits of both become one in Iditarod.  These dogs are my co-workers.  They are special and very gifted.  We have a working and a loving relationship.

Sebastien Dos Santos Borges – If my dogs are happy, I am happy.  If I’m happy, my dogs are happy.  Note in the picture above how Sebastien has set up a shelter to keep all his gear dry during the heavy wet snow.  While its not very nice with the heavy wet snow, he’s prepared.

Sean Williams Says “Not Too Bad, It’s Okay, It’s Fine, Not a Big Deal” (Photo by Insider)

Sean Williams – I had planned to 24 in either McGrath or Ophir but with it being so warm I decided to stay in McGrath.  Every question Liz Raines asked Sean his reply was positive.  Example: What did you think of the wet snow and rough trail.  Sean’s replied that it was okay, it didn’t bother me much.  How are you doing with the sleep deprivation.  Sean’s replied it’s not a problem, I’m used to that from home.  He said he’s experienced some obstacles that were really just momentary problems to overcome.  He did take a nasty spill on the steps which he described like being air born while snowboarding in the ½ pipe.  This guy is really happy to be on the trail and his attitude is tremendous!

Paige Drobny and Michelle Phillips Spot a Mosquito (Photo by Insider)

Paige Drobny and Michelle Phillips report that they both saw a mosquito while in McGrath.  It’s been so warm for this race, the warmest they can remember that the mosquitos are buzzing around.  Really?

Julie Ahnen works with Jessie Holmes out of Brushkana, Alaska.  She told the insiders that she was surprised by the mental struggles she had early in the race.  Coming from the sticks into Anchorage was a shock for her as was the restart.  But while she was going down the steps she began to feel right at home and realized she was having fun.

Bridgett Watkins told Insider that as a nurse, she is awed by being out on the trail during this pandemic and thinking about the musher who braved all the extremes of mother Nature to get the serum to Nome.  She’s amazed when considering the number of mushers who have competed in the race over its 50 year lifetime.

Having the Ultimate Insider package with GPS Tracker and all of the excellent video clips as well as the live interviews and daily updates is really the next best thing to being on the trail.  Enjoy these little snippets from the vast collection of Insider Videos.

Before the sun rises on Friday morning, the checker in Ruby will sign the first musher in.  The Lakefront Anchorage sponsors the First Musher to the Yukon Award.  Stay tuned!