Hello friends,

Ryan Redington’s Iditarider from Wisconsin draws Number 2 from the Mukluk.

On each Thursday before the Iditarod, the mushers all gather together at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in downtown Anchorage.  Dogs aren’t invited, but it’s important for the mushers to go because that’s where they draw their starting numbers. Bib number 1 is always reserved for the Honorary Musher (this year’s Honorary Musher is Leo Rasmussen from Nome, Alaska). What that means is, even though there are 72 mushers, the last number drawn was 73 because they start the draw with number 2 instead of 1. Ryan Redington drew Number 2 and Kristy Berington drew Number 73. You can find your favorite team’s starting number here.

On Monday from Fairbanks, my K-9 athlete friends and their mushers will leave at 2 minute intervals so you math-mutt-ticians will have to figure out when your favorite team will leave the race start.

Now that they know their starting numbers, all my friends who are running this year’s Iditarod are getting excited to begin the race.

Tail wags,

Zuma