One can’t help but compare the upcoming Iditarod Sled Dog Race and Olympic speed events – skating, skiing and sledding. One thing they share in common is that champions are determined by time. The first junior musher to cross the finish line in Willow and the first musher to cross under the Burled arch in Nome have the best times and are declared Iditarod champions. In some Olympic events, time is also used to determine champions

In Junior Iditarod and Iditarod, teams leave the starting chute in two-minute intervals. The first team leaves at 10:00 followed by the next team at 10:02, the next at 10:04 until all teams are on the trail. How can the first team to cross the finish line in the Iditarods actually be the winner when they don’t all start at the same time?

It’s called “differential” and here’s how it works. Time is added to the required rest stop to equalize for the start time difference. There were 13 teams that started the Junior Iditarod from Willow. Bib number 2 went off at 10:00 and bib number 14 went off at 10:24. When the teams get to Yentna Station their arrival time is recorded. They are required to rest at Yentna for 10 hours plus the differential. So let’s just say that Bib 2 got to Yentna at 18:34.00. All the required information is in place for the starter at Yentna to determine the departure times for bib 2.

Handler has worked as the starter for the Junior Iditarod at Yentna and here’s the procedure for putting the kids back on the trail so the first team that crosses the finish line is the winner. Add the required rest time of 10 hours plus the starting differential to the arrival time to determine the out time. Bib 2 came in at 18:34.00; adding ten hours brings that to 04:34.00, now add the 24 differential minutes. Bib number 2 can leave Yentna at 04:58.00. Don’t forget this is recorded and reported in Military Time.

Can you figure the out times for these Junior Iditarod mushers? Bib 4 started at 10:04 and arrived at Yentna at 17:29.00. Bib 5 started at 10:06.00 and arrived at Yentna at 17:46.00. Bib 10 started at 10:16 and arrived at Yentna at 18:27.00. The last musher left the start at 10:24.00.

Well there you have it – some great real life math problems from the Junior Iditarod. Just so you know, for the race that goes to Nome, the differential is added to the required 24-hour rest. Check my next story for the answers to the problem. Go Juniors!

Born to Run,
Sanka