The race is on

Sure this blog should have gone out much earlier today, you know, when Dallas Seavey decided to cut his rest in Iditarod short and head back down the trail towards the finish. We've still got -hopefully- a full three days until a champion is crowned, but this is when the RACE part of the race truly begins. Up until now, they were all jockeying for position. They all pretty much feel they still have it. Dallas is miles ahead, but he didn't take his 8 in Iditarod like he first planned, and so now those that already have have a few hours on him. Not enough to declare this not Dallas's year (and I'd argue a top 10 finish in this deep of a field after a three-year hiatus would be a win), but it's not as clear cut as some would like.

On paper when you look at rest, it appears Ryan Redington is leading the Iditarod. This is exciting because in 48 races, a Redington has never won. Iditarod 49 looks like it's trying to change that (and what a story a Redington winning on essentially the original trail Joe Sr. dreamed of). Ryan, however, has pushed from nearly the beginning and has had to send a few dogs home (at last look he was down to 10). With just under half way to go, he should be fine, but it's still really unknown what the teams will expect running back across the burn and through the gorge. 

Aaron Burmeister and Travis Beals have also taken both the 24 and the 8 hour rests and are within striking distance of either of the two frontrunners. Brent Sass is still capable though he still needs his 8 (as do the three amigos of Pete, Richie, and Joar). Mille has taken her 8 and is finishing up her 24 in Iditarod and could really play a spoiler. 

Currently Dallas is shown as resting just 30 miles from Ophir S. It's a good guess that he does not plan to take his 8 in Ophir, which means who the heck knows how this will all play out. Apparently Dallas has made mention that he's still rotating carrying dogs (as he has all race) in the sled bag while running, and he's "still building the monster". He's hardly not a front runner or even in the top spot, whatever the Iditamath suggests.

This field is incredibly talented and it's just mind boggling how many combinations there are to decide who is going to finish where... and we haven't even hit the big obstacles that everyone keeps saying they dread (well all but apparently Hal Hanson who WANTS to see the Gorge again). 

Speaking of the back of the pack, everyone is out of McGrath, though it looks like either Larry Daugherty's tracker never reset/died or he left it behind (uh oh) because he is clearly listed as OUT OF McGrath on the standings, but his tracker still shows him as resting. I do believe he was planning to swap sleds and it could have been the easy mistake of never taking the tracker off/out of the old sled to put it with the new one. Either way it probably won't be remedied until Ophir so just keep refreshing the current standings.

Our current red lantern is Will Troshynski who stated in an interview with Insider this morning about how he is just taking in every experience and his "mistakes" have been so excited to talk to people to gain knowledge that he's left out of checkpoints hours later than he was supposed to. Whoops! His energy in the interview was infectious (though I don't want to think how much caffeine or sugar may have been in his system at the time) and it was just so great that Insider gave the back of the pack so much attention throughout the day (keep it up Insider, you give me a glimmer of hope that you're listening!) 

This may be the last night that I get a decent amount of sleep. I suggest everyone do the same. It's gonna be a *WILD RIDE* (do not judge me in all of my years of writing out into the void I've never used that to talk about Iditarod).

Meet your 2021 Iditarod Rookies

Sean Williams at the Re-Start of
Iditarod 48. March 8, 2020.
Williams is returning as a rookie
in 2021 due to not finishing last year.

With the start of Iditarod 49 just a week away, the last minute jitters are hitting all mushers but probably most within the 12 mushers hitting the trail in their rookie runs. While some of the mushers have taken the trail before, they've yet to complete the race, and as always there are many who are first year rookies. 

The twelve rookies consist of "puppy" teams from established kennels as well as rookies running teams of their own dogs from their own kennel. Some have a lot of miles and experience under their belt, others are fairly new to the scene. They all have their goals, their reasons, for running. Even with the trail changes (there's no crossing under the burled arch in Nome this year) the rookies are excited to run and get that belt buckle.

So just who are the Class of 2021? Let's take a few minutes and get a glimpse into who are setting off to make their dream come true. (And, just maybe, this will help you pick a rookie or two to round out your Iditarod Fantasy Mushing Team.)

Brenda Mackey - That last name looks familiar, doesn't it? Brenda is no rookie to mushing. Her dad won the Iditarod back in the 80s, her grandfather won before that (in that split second finish), and of course her uncle is the legendary 4-time consecutive champion. Her personal pedigree goes as far back as her sled dogs to the founding fathers of long-distance mushing. Brenda and her Husband have run a successful kennel for many years and it's very exciting to see the first female Mackey in this year's race. Having no idea of her game plan, I'd expect her to be a front runner at the very least for Rookie of the Year. Brenda will run with Bib Number 15 (if it'd been #13 we could just call the race her's now... so close). You can find her online via her Website, Facebook, and Instagram. She also has one of the best written Iditarod Bio of any team. 

Chad Stoddard - Another Mackey connection, Chad was once a handler for Champion Lance Mackey. Chad has compiled a team with dogs of his own as well as - I believe - a few from kennels he is associated with. Make no mistake he is not running a "puppy team" in the sense that he's running another musher's second string. Expect Chad to stay relatively steady within the middle of the pack. Chad is running with Bib Number 18. You can find him online via Facebook and Instagram. There is a GoFundMe page set up to help with expenses, and you can see his mushing pedigree via his Iditarod Bio. 

Christopher Parker - Christopher was bit by the mushing bug about ten years ago. He's trained under and worked for several Iditarod kennels. He looks to be working with a team of dogs borrowed by several kennels mixed with his own. He will run with Bib Number 19. He is a man of few words on his Iditarod Bio, Facebook, and Instagram. He also has a GoFundMe set up to help offset race expenses. 

Dakota Schlosser - The sprint turned long distance musher is another team running with a team of dogs from their own kennel. Dakota finished his qualifiers last season, winning the Humanitarian Award (given for best dog care) in the Alpine 300. He also ran the Junior Iditarod twice as a kid coming in 4th place. He also builds custom sleds for many teams that race sled dogs. Dakota will most likely be running for Rookie of the Year in this year's Iditarod, so he's one to keep an eye on for sure. He will run with Bib Number 39. You can find him online via his Website, Facebook, Instagram, and of course his Iditarod Bio.  

Hal Hanson - While 3-time Iditarod Champion Mitch Seavey won't be running in the 49th Iditarod, his up-and-coming super star dogs will be under the steady hand of Hal Hanson. Hal has worked for Team Seavey for a number of years, and if you've visited their tours you've probably met him. Hal will no doubt be in his customary fur hat and beaver mittens (and I think he has a fur parka too?) - he's originally from Oklahoma so he gets cold (haha). Don't expect him to be racing for any awards, his goal is to finish with as many pups in harness all happy and ready to GO again. Hal will run with Bib Number 12. You can find Hal online via Facebook and his Iditarod Bio.

Jeremy Traska - Jeremy was a "kind of" late entry on the Iditarod roster. His wife, an Iditarod Veteran, had signed up but has had some "lingering health issues" that had her rethinking her entry in the 2021 race. With those concerns, and the promise of an interesting and different Iditarod, Shaynee swapped her entry for Jeremy (with Iditarod's blessing, of course) and so the dogs of Howling Ridge Kennel will once again run down the historic gold mining trails. Jeremy will run with Bib Number 5. You can find him online via Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Iditarod Bio.

Joanna Jagow - The main musher of the Motley Crew Kennel should be fun to follow with her positive outlook and her awesome sled dog names. Her kennel is made up of mostly dogs she's raised, but she does have a few dogs from other kennels in her Crew. Iditarod fans may recognize dog Banjo from Jeff King's Kennel. Banjo was part of King's team in 2017 and was injured when a snowmachine driven by a drunk driver drove through King's team at speed topping 110mph. Nash's littermate Nash passed away due to injuries, but Banjo made an amazing recovery. It's unsure if Banjo will be running with Joanna next week. Joanna will run with Bib Number 22. You can find her online via her Website, Facebook, Instagram, as well as her Iditarod Bio. 

Joshua McNeal - Owner/operator of Crooked Creek Kennel started his mushing career on the Kenai Peninsula before relocating his team further north in search of more consistent winter weather and snowy trails. Josh worked with Ken Anderson and his team in leading up to Anderson's final Iditarod, and now many of those dogs reside at Crooked Creek Kennel. There are a few other dogs from other kennels in the mix as well but they all call CCK home. It will be interesting to see how McNeal and team do in their rookie run. He could be a dark horse for Rookie of the Year. Joshua will run with Bib Number 30. You can find him online via his Website, Facebook, and Instagram. His Iditarod Bio is pretty much empty. 

Sean Underwood - You might remember this name from last year. Sean had always planned to run Iditarod in 2021, but just hours after Jeff King spoke at an event promoting the 2020 race he was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery and Sean had less than a week to prepare to take Jeff's A-team to Nome. Underwood made it so close to the finish but was one of three teams to get caught in crazy overflow and had to hit their SOS buttons to end their race. When he returned to civilization and back to Husky Homestead the future was unknown with Covid looming. Due to a very dismal tourist season in Alaska, King's kennel had to downsize its employees/crew and so Underwood found himself moving to Dallas Seavey's kennel and will be running Seavey's "puppy team" in this year's race. Sean will run with Bib Number 47. You can find him online via his Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Iditarod Bio.

Sean Williams - Probably the hardest musher to figure out what to think. He offers only a website for the company he works for in his Iditarod Bio (Alaskan Mushing Company) which I can only guess means he'll be running a puppy team for either Martin Buser or Matt Failor. Sean is running a "puppy team" for Martin Buser. Sean will run with Bib Number 35. You can find out about the touring company he works for online via Website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Susannah Tuminelli - Running dogs from Kathleen Fredrick's kennel, "Cruisin Susan" will be running dogs she's helped raise and train over the last two years. An adventurer at heart, she traveled from her home on the East Coast to Montana to finally the wilds of Alaska. She should have a solid finish in the Iditarod. Susannah will run with Bib Number 31. You can find her online via Website, Facebook, Instagram and Iditarod Bio.

Will Troshynski - Owner and lead musher at ATAO kennel, Will is a former Jr. Iditarod musher from Martin Buser's kennel. After studying and learning from one of the sport's leaders in racing and dog care, Will has come full circle to running their own program. ATAO stands for “Adventure, Truth, Accountability, Onward” - which just so happens to be the kennel's philosophy. The very progressive and outspoken kennel could make news if they make it to the finish line as Will has the chance to be the first openly Trans musher to finish the Iditarod. Will is running with Bib Number 27. You can learn more about Will online via Website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Iditarod Bio.

Which rookies are you cheering for? Who do you think will win Rookie of the Year? Will a rookie be the Red Lantern? Comment below with your thoughts.