Well, it's Wednesday afternoon here in Nome and 22 teams have crossed under the burled arch. Jeff had a spectacular finish last night with the colored lights along Front Street lighting the way. The team looked fantastic and recieved many compliments including several from this year's champion, Martin Buser. Yuksi and Jody lead the way for Vermont, Moose, Demi, Conan, Pumba, George, Breve, and Kanga. While Jeff was being interviewed, the dogs got a meat snack. After gulping down their snack, Moose, Kanga and Demi were screaming and hitting their harness trying to tell the boss, "Come on! Let's get going!"

From the finish line, the team ran the two blocks to the dog lot and happily grabbed a couple more snacks before finding a bed of straw to call their own. The dogs are assessed by veterinarians at that time for overall health. The team then received a warm dinner before retiring. Cali and Tessa stood guard over the team until 11:30 at which time another group of veterinarians collected urine samples (not an easy feat) for drug testing. Another bowl of warm food and snacks at midnight and the crew was ready for a long nap. Well, maybe not too long. We were up at 4:30am to pack the sled and prepare to meet the Alaska Airlines folks who drove from the airport in a truck ladden with dog kennels. The dogs and sled were loaded and off they went to catch their flight to Anchorage where our dog truck was waiting to take them home. They will all be back in their own beds tonight!

Jeff is in great spirits and has many fun stories to tell. As we watch the teams arriving, the weather is threatening to storm. The entire race so far has been blessed with perfect weather and great trail and the teams have looked excellent at the finish line. The days will pass quickly until the finish Banquet Sunday night. Nome does its very best to keep the mushers and fans entertained and busy with activities from Art Shows to creative contests.

There is a pack of Junior Iditarod mushers enjoying Nome as well; sledding, swimming, playing games, snowmachining and just plain having fun. We are still watching Lisa's progress along the trail. Jeff hopes to fly to Unalakleet to see her and the dogs on their way through.

There is no way to thank the Iditarod Trail Committee, Sponsors, Volunteers, Fans and Communities that support this incredible event enough for all that they do. Thank you all. Already there is talk of next year.........

As the sun lightens the sky here in Nome, Front Street is all a-bustle with camera crews, spectators, sponsors and officials. It's an excting time!!! We are awaiting the arrival of Martin Buser, this year's evident winner. The siren should be sounded soon to announce the team's appearance coming up off the sea ice and onto Front Street. I had the opportunity to visit with Martin's wife, Cathy, last night after we arrived. It's a memorable time for the whole family and their supporters. Congratulations for a job well done!

Jeff has run a brilliant race and will be leaving White Mountain in 6th place around noon today. Ramey Smyth is just over an hour behind him and will prove to be tough competition on the 77 mile trip to Nome. Jeff will be more concerned with who's behinD him than who's in front of him today. Vern and Jon have a three hour lead on Jeff and their teams are moving about the same speed, so it wouldn't be prudent to try to catch them. It appears that Dee Dee had some trouble on the trail last night. We'll know more about that later today.

The three Norwegians have run a wonderful race and have gained a lot of friends along the way with their happy demeanors. There will be many stories to be told...and listened to....here at the finish line as the teams collect and wait for the banquet on Sunday night.

I hear the announcers outside so will head downstairs to add my voice to the crowd's!

For more info on the race news visit cabela's.com and iditarod.com. Check here for a personalized update tomorrow.

Tomorrow the mushers and their teams will begin to arrive in Nome. (It's over already??) There is talk of another record breaking run...which would mean the breaking of the 8-day mark. When Susan Butcher was reigning in the late 1980's, there was talk of breaking the 10-day mark. What will we be talking about in another ten years?

Reports of wind along the coast always put a bit of hopefulness that the team status may be shuffled up a bit. The coastal storms have produced several exciting and historic race stories that are retold each year at about this time. "Remember when...." Will this year's attempts provide us with some tales to tell and retell? We will soon find out.

Back to the stats this morning, it looks like Jeff will have some fun racing into Nome. He has moved his position up to 8th with the possibility of grabbing another spot or two. We'll keep out fingers crossed......

Today's events will go unnoticed to the girls and I as we spend the day driving to Fairbanks, flying to Anchorage and then connecting to our flight to None. We arrive just after 7:00pm and nestle into our home-away-from-home on Front Street right beside the burled arch. Mary and Howie Knodel run the Arctic Trading Post, the best shop in Nome that also hails the best coffee. From our abode above the shop, we have a perfect view of the race doings below. Nome is Ellen's number one vacation spot....should I be worried?

For more info on the race news visit cabela's.com and iditarod.com. Check here for a personalized update tomorrow.

Cali and Tessa had a great time in Galena bringing a box of goodies for the checkers(fresh fruit and baked goodies) and treat bags for Jeff, Lisa and Jim Gallea(a good friend). They got to the checkpoint at 6:00am and were told by the checker that Jeff had asked to be woken up at 7:00am. They waited until that time, watching other teams, and woke Jeff up themselves at the appointed time. They had a great visit for 45 minutes while Jeff woke up and reported him in great spirits. This coincides with my conversations with him yesterday from Nulato. He was very awake and cheery and happy with the team. It appears by the stats that he has not left Kaltag this morning, but I believe that he is out. He contemplated going through the checkpoint, the last on the Yukon River.

Jeff reported that the trail committee had a trail drag go over the first section of trail from Kaltag so that the trail was in geat shape. The weather and trail conditions this year have been fantastic, the best ever. The clear skies and wonderful sunshine during the days are accented by the cool, below zero nights creating near perfect race conditons.

At this point Jeff will continue to maintain the speed of the team as he begins to head up the coast. As the opportunity arises, he may take advantage and move up his place a bit. A Top Ten finish for him looks achievable.

Charlie Boulding looks like he is doing a great job with his team, along with Ramey Smyth. Ramy Brooks and John Baker have done an outstanding job as well. These are all familar names in the racing world. Jon Little is the new-comer to the Top Ten-ers. He should be very proud of his accomplishments as well. Each year the race takes on its own persona with a combination of accomplishments and faded dreams. The drama of this event is gripping for so many of us. It truly is "The Last Great Race"!

For more info on the race news visit cabela's.com and iditarod.com. Check here for a personalized update tomorrow.

The Yukon River is a landmark for the Iditarod Race. It is here that
things begin to happen. Today's report shows Martin maintaining a strong race and swiftly negotiating the river.

Jeff called from Ruby yesterday and left a message. He said that both Ramy Brooks and Dee Dee's teams looked good leaving Ruby after their mandatory 8 hour layover. Each team must take an 8 hour layover at one of any of the checkpoints on the Yukon River. That includes Ruby, Galena, Nulato and Kaltag.

Jeff has chosen to take his 8 hour in Galena and should be leaving there about 9:20 this morning. His run time into Galena shows a diminished speed in the team. He has his work cut out for him to hold on to a top ten finish. The winds on the river ("always in your face")are reported to be picking up over the next two days.

The first teams should be arriving in to Unalakleet tomorrow morning. This is another milestone in the race. I've always contended that the order in which the top teams enter this coastal checkpoint about 300 miles from finish line is the order that they cross under the burled arch on Front Street in Nome. However, to quote a historic sports buff, "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings."

For more info on the race news visit cabela's.com and iditarod.com. Check here for a personalized update tomorrow.

This seemingly small fact can create substantial waves of concern and question for we stat-watchers sitting by our nice warm computers at home. It provides just another opportunity to work on stress management! This discussion refers to yesterday's reports of Jeff, along with several others, not leaving the Ophir checkpoint. Once again, the stats do not show Jeff and Vern out of Cripple this morning. My best guess is that they, along with a few others not reported, are out of the checkpoint and on the trail to Ruby.

Martin has taken command of the race today with his run into Ruby. He is having an excellent race this year and is the one to beat at this point. A gentle reminder here that the teams have only passed the half-way point, but this is historically where the race finally takes shape.

Kanas, Jersey, and Zazu are safely back in their homes here at Goose Lake and the other three athletes from Jeff's team should arrive home tonight. There is a batallion of friends and Iditarod volunteers that assist with getting our dogs back home to Denali. Special thanks to all of you.

For more info on the race news visit cabela's.com and iditarod.com. Check here for a personalized update tomorrow.

I spoke with Jeff three times yesterday. He sounded great, well-rested and happy with the dogs. Why did he stop so soon? He had a sled in McGrath and thought that he would loose precious time switching without a designated break. He had thoughts of going on to Ophir or Cripple to 24 but likes the idea of a short run to the next checkpoint to assess the dogs. He hasn't been sleeping well in Takotna so he gave McGrath a try. Time will tell how this decision will affect his race outcome. Jeff's strategy at this point is to continue to run the team at their best without trying to play catch-up yet. As he and the team hit the Yukon, he will then assess his position and possiblities.

It is worthy to mention that Vern Halter looks in great shape this year. His team is moving very fast....about as fast as Jeff's.....and he has a nice team size. He is know for quality care of his dogs (he is married to Susan Whiton, a veterinarian)and has had some excellent performances in the past Iditarods. He is a perenial contender.

For more info on the race news visit cabela's.com and iditarod.com. Check here for a personalized update tomorrow.

It's 24-hour time on the Iditarod Trail.

A dedicated spectator will take the time to figure out team placement throughout the next 36 to 48 hours as teams declare their mandatory 24-hour (plus start time adjustments) break. Jeff and his team have chosen to stop in McGrath again this year as Martin heads further down the trail with others following. It has become of interest to many teams to push the long break as far down the trail as possible thanks to Doug Swingley's previous strategies. I believe that Jeff also had that in mind. I spoke with him yesterday on the phone from Nickolai. He was tired, as expected, and sounded much the same as he usually does at that point in the race. He reported that his biggest challenge was trying to get the team to slow down. They continue to go faster than he would like them to. The excellent trail is exciting for both musher and dog.

Doug announced his retirement from the Iditarod yesterday. It was not a big surprise as we had heard rumblings for a month or so about just that. He is taking what might be called a "victory lap" along the trail at a leisurely pace. Jeff admitted that it sounded like fun!

Today's stats begin to tell a story. It appears as though Martin is having a great race and I'm sure thrilled with where he is. It's a guess at this point whether he will 24 in Ophir or move on. The next group with Dee Dee and Linwood should be to Ophir by now and we'll have to wait and see who, if any, stop there. There is a large group in Takotna that are stopped as well as McGrath. The race will momentarily take a breather.

Cali and Tessa will be in Galena playing basketball on Friday and Saturday and may have the timing perfect to see Dad go through! That's exciting.

For more info on the race news visit cabela's.com and iditarod.com. Check here for a personalized update tomorrow.

From our vantage point, the big story along the trail surrounds around last year's champion, Doug Swingley. Stats show him just leaving Finger Lake this morning just after 5:00 only minutes ahead of Lisa and our puppy team.

Why has he scheduled himself such a slow start? It's a mystery that may be solved today. Should he be considered out of contention for this year's race? Definitely not, in my book. He is a brilliant dog driver and may be just experimenting with another theory of dog racing. In addition to his new race strategy, a human interest story is also brewing. Doug proposed to his friend, Melanie, as they rode the runners together to Knik Lake after the restart in Wasilla. Rumors are that they may be wed in Nome at the end of the race.

Nome may be especially exciting this March with wedding bells and a
citizenship swearing-in for Swiss born Martin Buser. All of these stories certainly add to the enjoyment of following the race and illustrate that this dog-racing thing is truly a lifestyle not just an event. The Iditarod Trial Sled Dog Race is home for many, many people......and dogs!

To get back to the race, it looks like Jeff and his team are in great shape leaving Rohn early this morning to head across the Farewell burn (93 miles) to Nickolai. Jeff left with all 16 dogs in the team after a good rest and his travel times appear to be just what they should be. It's too early to tell who the exact competition is though there is a long list of possibilities. Mitch Seavey is moving well this year, coming back from a difficult race in 2001. Dee Dee, Martin, John Baker, Rick Swenson, and Harald Tunheim from Norway are all top contenders. Time will tell.

Jeff has, as always, a few new innovations for the race this year. More about those later.

Stay up to date with the race news on cabela's.com and iditarod.com for more information check here for a personalized update.

Happy Trails!

The ceremonial start on 4th Avenue began with some excitement for us.
Because of her win in the Junior Iditarod the previous weekend, our
daughter, Cali, was honored with leading the teams from the start line onto the trail to Eagle River. Cali had a very special rider in her sled. Officer David Lim, a New York City Port Authority officer who survived the World Trade Center disaster, lost his canine partner, Sirius, in the terrorist attack. Officer Lim was a friendly and outgoing character who was filled with the excitement of the Iditarod Start Day. He rode in the basket of Cali's sled while Tyrell Seavey, the 2001 Junior Iditarod Champion, rode the whip sled, the second sled attached to Cali's team. Officer Lim keep them entertained along the way with his New York humor. Cali said, "My stomach hurt so much from laughing so hard!". About half way to the drop off location, Tyrell and Officer Lim traded spots so the he could get the feel of runners beneath his feet. They left him after about 10 miles with a huge smile on his face. A special thank you to Tyrell and also Hannah Moderow, a four-time Junior Iditarod veteran, for the use of their dogs and their help!

Jeff and Lisa left the starting line with big smiles, a very relaxed
beginning to an exciting couple of weeks. All of the mushers are thankful that the race rules have evolved away from previous year's starting line protocol. Jeff used to begin with 20 dogs on 4th Avenue along with the time clock. Once the team arrived in Eagle River Checkpoint, we had exactly 4 hours to get to the restart in Wasilla for the countdown to set out on the trail to Nome. Talk about stress levels...... Now for the ceremonial start in Anchorage, the teams begin with only 12 dogs, 4 of whom need not be permanent members of the team to Nome. The section from Anchorage to Eagle River is not officially counted as trail time for the race and the restart begins the next day. Once again, the Iditarod Trail Committee continues to strive to improve the race each year and do an excellent job of it.

After a relaxing Saturday and Sunday morning, we delivered Jeff to the
ballfields in Wasilla for the restart. Peter and Virgil, our handlers
extraordinaire, had driven the truck laden with dogs and sled to the start location much earlier. A few last minute touches and down the trail they went. Cali rode with Jeff to Knik. Each musher is allowed a handler to assist to that point. Lisa was joined by our good friend Troy. A hasty goodbye at Knik Lake and the race was finally officially underway.

It's fun to keep up with the stats at this point but nothing of significant interest will happen until about Nickolai. Jeff is favored to win this year's race but we all know it will be exciting no matter what! From this morning's stats, it looks as though all is well on the trail. The weather is fine as the teams begin to settle into a running schedule.

Check out cabela's.com for daily reports from the trail and race stats.
Also, iditarod.com for more information. I will continue reports here each morning. Happy Trails!

Training got an early start thanks to a cooler than usual summer last year.

The dogs flourished under the pre-season training and were ahead of the game by late September. This made it possible for Jeff to join the family in Nelson, New Zealand on October for a well deserved break in the sun. Of course, Jeff was eager to get back on the runners and with the help of Lisa, Peter and Virgil, the team was ready to race well before the competitions began in January.

The race season started with a bang with a victory in the Knik 200 Race. Then on to Bethel and the Kuskokwim 300. There Jeff and the team were able to add a sixth Kusko 300 victory to their resume. Down to Soldotna the following weekend to finish a close second in the Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race. These pre-Iditarod competitions help prepare the team for the race in March and assist Jeff in choosing the final 16 athletes that will join him on the trail to Nome.

February was dedicated to preparing food drops, veterinary check-ups, ecg's and bloodwork for the dogs for the upcoming Iditarod and assisting Cali with preparations for her second Junior Iditarod Race. Cali and her team of "ten of the best" had a very clean run (and a lot of fun) and were able to cross the finish line in first place only 33 minutes ahead of Tyrell Seavey. Compliments and congratulations go to all of the 19 participants and the Iditarod Trail Committee and volunteers. It was a job well done by all.

Due to her victory, Cali has the honor of driving the first sled down 4th Avenue in Anchorage for the ceremonial Iditarod Race Start on Saturday.

Tyrell will be assisting her on the second sled. In addition, they will
have a very special rider aboard.....stay tuned.

As the finishing touches go on the sled, lists are made, checked off and checked again and the dogs are pampered, and the minutes tick by bringing us all closer to the Iditarod start in Anchorage on March 2nd, the excitement quietly grows. A special thank you goes out to all of the Iditarod Trail Committee, sponsors and volunteers that make this incredible event happen each year.