It’s 1:45am. Feeling: Exhausted by proxy.
Aliy and the team have pulled in to Iditarod checkpoint. They will take their mandatory 24 hour rest there. It will actually be 25 hours, 8 minutes before they are able to leave the checkpoint as the differential time from the staggered start is added to their time.
The 24 hour break is for refuelling and regenerating both dogs and musher. Aliy will give the dogs a few meat snacks immediately on arrival then quickly bed the dogs down into straw, remove their booties and put sleeping coats and/or fleece blankets on to aid a muscle-relaxing sleep. She’ll start soaking the kibble and meat for their first of three or four meals over the break. She’ll then start the dogs on a regular and well-honed routine of high calorie meals, hydration, massage, walking around to stretch out, and eating. She will get some good rest herself, no doubt she was working just as hard physically as the dogs during the last 18 hours.
Her drop bags are full of all good things for the dogs. Two types of kibble, one for soaking and one with a higher fat/protein content to add as crunchy calories. She’ll have and several different meat snack options including poultry skins, beef, chicken, tripe (the dogs LOVE tripe) and salmon. She will cater to their every whim and feed them a combination and portion size especially suited to each dog.
The dogs will also receive all-over body massages with hand-warmed liniment to sooth muscles and foot ointment will sooth tired paws. They will be at a doggy day spa for the next 25 hours.
Aliy has packed some treats for herself also, as a change from the freeze-dried meals and granola bars she packed for most other checkpoints. Breakfast sandwiches, burritos, dried plantains… things that will tempt her to eat.
As an added bonus for getting to Iditarod first (but not the incentive for making the move), Aliy will be awarded the GCI Halfway Award.
Aliy will lose the top position on the leaderboard during the next 24 hours as those teams that took their long stop earlier will catch and overtake them. Such leapfrogging is the upshot of teams taking breaks at any checkpoint they choose.
I don’t know about you but I’m taking a break from the tracker for a while. I could drive myself mad looking at the speeds of the following mushers so I am best to not even look.
Great news! Thank you for all the updates, Moira. I’m sure you are ready for a well deserved rest yourself!
Yes Moira you need a rest too!
I hope the entire team enjoys their meals and rest at Iditarod.
What ever that Half Way Award is, I hope it’s nice, Aliy deserves something great!
Love you all!
Time to rest SPK
😉
Congratulations New Aliy and teammates!! Make the most of your long layover. This race is heating up!
❤️SPK 🐾👣
It’s a relief to know she made it to Iditarod and she seems to be in good spirits. Now she will get to rest and rejuvenate herself and the dogs. Whew! Thank you Moira, now get some rest.
Thank you for the updates!
Thank you, SPK team, for the updates!
WOW. That’s all I can say. Wow. Go, girl, go! I am awestruck by this team. Aliy and the 4-leggeds have done great so far. Joar and Nic will be coming along soon. Being the nice person that I am, I hope their times aren’t that great from Ophir to Iditarod 🙂 Hope the 24 (25+) layover gives everyone a chance to rest and restore for the next 560+ miles. There are still so many miles to go, including the Yukon River. Rest well, Red/Blue/SPK Team!
Thanks for the great update! I’ll bet you’re not able to avoid the tracker for too long, though. It’s addictive. I have to constantly fight an internal battle between watching the live feed and tracker or actually getting my work done. I love the technology that let’s us follow along (and try to guess/second guess the strategies of the various mushers and teams).
Go Aliy!!!!
I couldn’t click around any longer last night and had to shut down 3 hours before she landed. Probably good I didnt see the circles. Aliy seemed to be in good spirits checking in and during her 2 quick interviews. That slog had all of us routing even harder. If only we could push that little tracker forward faster and it move her as well. Tough run but we all stand behind her decision. Good dogs. Thanks for getting her there safe!
Love your updates, thank you!! I’m curious, why do the mushers soak the kibble? Go Aliy & rest well! Cheering you on from Indiana!
At least she gets some quiet time before the chase pack catches up to her. I cant wait to see how they do after the 24 hour rest…in the videos Aliy seemed upbeat…which is great!
Congratulations on making it to the half way point, first. Super effort to both Aliy and the most magnificent team out there. Thank you to all of the very hard workers at the SP Kennel , for all of the updates. Best wishes and Prayers.
Thanks Moira for the update. Wonderful news that Aliy & team have made it half way. Hope all enjoy some rest & rejuvenation while in Iditarod. Well chosen place for 24 hr plus differential. Aliy still has 14 dogs also, yeah team.
Yay! Glad Aliy and the team made it well to Iditarod! Was fevering the whole day over their positioning! Thanks for the regular updates! I hope they will have a good break and spa day! Relax, eat, sleep and let the others deal with the snow en route!
Loved how the team looked when it got into Iditarod and love Aliy’s sense of humor and big smile despite the sleep deprivation she must be going through. Love the bold move to take the 24 here and I too must step away from the tracker…..those back in the pack seem to moving way too fast for my stomach to handle. Right now I simply applaud the effort of Aliy and her team. Have a well deserved rest and then take advantage of the pack trail breaking for you! Go Aliy!
I awoke this morning and as soon as my feet hit the floor I was off and running to check on you and the dogs. Happy to hear your arrived at Ididarod … rest well Aliy and team 🙂
Thanks ever so much for this post, and the “half-way award” is significant!!! As long as the Red Team 4-leggeds don’t think the race is over yet…
If crowd/ID officials aren’t around, and It may not be a big deal considering Iditarod the Check Point is an abandoned building/place (no crowds to cheer her in to the 24 hour rest)…but we care!!!
Graphic from 2018 race below.
http://www.aboutweston.com/artIditarodthetown.jpg
WOOF WOOF WOOF ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Glad Aliy is getting some well deserved rest and it should be quiet so the dogs will rest also. Good move!
Take Care and nice to see her pull in with the weather. Go Red Team!
Good advice, Moira. GPS tracker is off. I usually like to watch the back of the pack, the rookies, during Aliy’s 24, but this year, I will forego it. As Padee said, it looks as though she and Martin set up the trail nicely for followers and it also looks like the trail hardened over night.
…
Rain and snow to come for the next three days if NWS is on target.
…
Hope Bruno is okay. I guess it could have been mentally tough for the youngsters to run with no dog scents in front of them through that stretch. They are veterans in more than one way now. They know what it is to be in the front of the pack and they are still young!!
Congratulations Aliy 👍 To you and your Amazing Dogs ❤️💕🐾🐾🐾
Wish everyone was giving updates and photos that could be shared with FRIENDS!
I realize it’s a money issue – but it’s Kindness & Sharing that’s goes a long way!
Wishing you Very Safe Travels for You & the Dogs …. to Nome … ❤️💕🐾🐾🐾
Your are a Winner! 👍
A True Lovin’ of The Great Amazing Race to Nome!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕💕🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Way to go Aliy and dogs! This race os going great so far! I know Aliy will regain her top position in the race once they get back on the trail from the 24 hour layover.
GO RED TEAM! I know you CAN win the race!
Ya know I’ve been thinking about this all day. Aliy started at position 19 and in 300+ miles took the lead in this race. There is more than 300+ miles for her to regain her position. Let those boys run ahead and break trail for her and others. We’ve seen how late in the race things change. We have your back Aliy. You get some MUCH needed rest and nutrition, keep that superb attitude, and show us how it’s done! Good dogs…keep on running.