It’s 8am Alaska time. Feeling: energised despite a lack of sleep. What’s going to happen next?
Aliy and the team are in Ophir, having arrived there just after 6am. Overnight they ran through the Takotna checkpoint, spending just three minutes to check-in and out. Whether the team takes their 24 hour break in Ophir remains to be seen, we won’t know for a few hours yet.
She still has all 14 team mates with her, 350 miles into the race.
Last night was a classic example of how teams can leapfrog each other and how, at this stage of the race when teams are taking their 24 hour rest at different checkpoints, the Current Standings don’t tell the story. When many of us went to bed Aliy was in McGrath and listed in 11th position, now she is at the same race mile as Nic in front just a few hours later. But, then when she stops the team for their 24 hour break, teams will pass her again. It’s a complicated picture that doesn’t get clearer until everyone has taken their long break, and then is never really resolved until all teams converge on White Mountain – the second-last checkpoint before Nome.
Refresh, refresh, refresh.
OMG! Aliy just pulled out of Ophir as I type. I have been on the tracker, the standings, the livestream, local news outlets…and my hands are glad to get off the mouse and type some. I don’t know how you do it SPK! I can barely keep up and I don’t have NEAR the responsibility you all do.
Go ALIY and team.
Well, that was unexpected. I really thought she would hang out in Ophir longer. The dogs must be doing really well. How exciting! Would love to be a fly on the bag right now to watch them run. Go SP Kennel!
Was there a weather report that played a part – who knows!!!
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Ditto to everything else said including… GO RED TEAM!!!
Go Aliy Go, be bold, I like that she said this is the new Aliy and zipped up her Matson Jacket! This is your race Aliy, we are cheering you on!!!!
Cheers
Go Aliy!
The Red Team is moving along nicely on the trail. It’s good to know that all the dogs are doing well and Aliy hasn’t had to drop any dogs yet. This is going to be a great race! Keep up the good work, Aliy!
GO Aliy GO!!! What a nice deal to see her out front! She’s the girl to do it! up, saw that nice
blue Matson Jacket–real sporty! Go DOGS!