After reading my last story about differential time for the Junior Iditarod, you may be wondering about bib number one. The first Junior to leave the start line at Willow was wearing bib number 2. The final musher to leave the start for Yentna Station was bib number 14. Of the 13 mushers who ran the Junior Iditarod, why wasn’t one of them wearing bib number one?

It’s a long-standing tradition that bib number “1” is reserved for the “Honorary” musher. So the Junior Iditarod and Iditarod races start with bib number two. EXCEPT for the Iditarod Ceremonial Start in downtown Anchorage where the winner of the Junior wears bib number one and carries the honorary musher through Anchorage.

Al and Bev Marple were honored by the Junior Iditarod as Honorary Mushers for 2010. Al, a former Iditarod musher, was instrumental in organizing the Junior Iditarod back in the early 80’s. As a carpenter, Al handcrafted and donated many famous Marple Sleds as prizes to Junior Iditarod Champions. Al has served as a race judge and marshal, insuring the Junior Iditarod went well for the young mushers. He’s also served on the Board of Directors for the Junior race and has filled numerous other volunteer positions. Al is credited with knowing how to make things work, keep the race going and he knows how to be fair without causing problems and he can stand outside in the worst weather and call it fun. Al has shared his racing expertise outside of Alaska by serving as a race official for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon in northern Minnesota. Bev, Al’s wife, has over the years been an important contributor to the banquet, a vital volunteer at Headquarters and has spent countless hours gathering prizes for the junior mushers. Together the Marples have contributed toward making Iditarod what it is today.

Here are the answers for the differential problems from the Junior Iditarod. Keep in mind that the required layover is 10 hours. Bib #4 who came in at 17:29 would have a 20-minute differential and be able to leave Yentna at 03:49. Bib #5 who cam in at 17:46 would have an 18-minute differential and be allowed to leave Yentna at 04:04. Bib #10 who came in at 18:27 would have an 8-minute differential and could leave at 04:35. Finally, bib #3 came in at 19:15 and would have a 22-minute differential and be allowed to leave at 05:37. How’d you do on your computations?

With so few days left before the race starts, Handler says things are really getting exciting in Iditarod Land. Stay tuned for my next story.

Born to Run,
Sanka