Iditarod Update #7 - Wednesday Afternoon Patience

Situation Will Clear Up over the next 24 Hours

Where do the teams stand in relation to each other? It’s going to be a while until that gets settled!

With teams taking their mandatory 24-hour rest at different checkpoints, the actual standings do not reflect where the teams are in relation to the racing time. Until every team has taken their 24, a glance at the leaderboard or GPS doesn’t paint the picture. And even if one could sit down and calculate the timings, things on the Iditarod Trail have a way of constantly changing.

So, the situation as it seems at this moment:
Martin Buser and his son, Rohn, blew through Takotna and ended up in Ophir, likely to take their 24.

Meanwhile, teams are piling up in Takotna, many of which are presumably taking their 24. Aliy Zirkle was the first musher in, at 11:30pm AKT. However, with the time-differential, she’ll stay in the checkpoint 25:44. Mitch Seavey and John Baker arrived at 12:09am simultaneously, but Baker will stay 25:50 and Seavey 25:02. Therefore, Mitch can leave at 1:11am, Aliy at 1:14am and John at 1:59am.

So, by tomorrow morning everything will be different! Expect a few more teams to pass through Takotna and push even farther down the trail. This strategy can make or break a race, and is fascinating to watch it unfold!

The back of the pack is moving right along, with Silvia Furtwängler, Jan Steves, Bob Chlupach and Dan Seavey working their way toward Nikolai.

Besides the Buser Boys traveling together, the Berington Twins have been together the entire race, and are in McGrath.

Dallas Seavey is 14 minutes behind his dad, Mitch, with the time makeup.

And while Ryan Redington is far behind his brother, Ray will have to stay an extra 2 hours and 12 minutes beyond the 24 that his brother will.

The Rookies will also adjust, so Brent Sass, Josh Cadzow, Anjanette Steer, Braxton Peterson, Curt Perano and Mike Santos will have their positions known tomorrow as well.

Race fans must have patience...

UNOFFICIAL CURRENT STANDINGS as of 3:00pm AKST/7:00pmm ET
(Based on tracker data and Official Standings):

In Ophir
1. Martin Buser (41)
2. Rohn Buser (62)

In Takotna
3. Aliy Zirkle (14)
4. John Baker (11)
5. Mitch Seavey (35)
6. Jeff King (10)
7. Dallas Seavey (34)
8. Ray Redington Jr (2)
9. Paul Gebhardt (25)
10. Hugh Neff (27)
11. Aaron Burmeister (44)
12. Sonny Lindner (59)
13. Gerry Willomitzer (23)
14. DeeDee Jonrowe (17)
15. Michelle Phillips (26)
16. Peter Kaiser (28)
17. Jake Berkowitz (29)
18. Rick Swenson (60)
19. Cim Smyth (8)
20. Tom Thurston (5)
21. Sigrid Ekran (24)
22. Brent Sass (50) {R}
23. Ramey Smyth (21)
24. Michael Williams, Jr (51)
25. Ken Anderson (39)
26. Josh Cadzow (55) {R}
27. Jodi Bailey (6)
28. Bruce Linton (36)
29. Wade Marrs (7)
30. Anjanette Steer (32) {R}
31. Lance Mackey (18)
32. Kelley Griffin (20)
33. Nicolas Petit (9)
34. Colleen Robertia (42)
35. Ryan Redington (67)
36. Ed Stielstra (45)
37. Curt Perano (61) {R}
38. Mike Santos (22) {R}
39. William Pinkham (4)
40. Ryne Olson (46) {R}

On the Trail to Takotna
41. Scott Janssen (37)
42. Jim Lanier (3)
43. Lachlan Clarke (66)
44. Karin Hendrickson (43)
45. Trent Herbst (16)

In McGrath
46. Gerald Sousa (58)
47. Justin Savidis (38)
48. Braxton Peterson (63) {R}
49. Zoya DeNure (53)

On the Trail to McGrath
50. Anna Berington, (33) {R}
51. Kristy Berington (31)
52. Pat Moon (15) {R}
53. Matt Giblin (52)
54. Hank Debruin (48) {R}
55. Travis Cooper (19) {R}
56. Karen Ramstead (56)
57. Art Church, Jr (64)
58. Michael Suprenant (13)

In Nikolai
59. Kelly Maixner (12)
60. Jaimee Kinzer (30) {R}
61. Kirk Barnum (47)
62. Matt Failor (57) {R}

On the Trail to Nikolai
63. Silvia Furtwängler (54) {R}
64. Jan Steves (40) {R}
65. Bob Chlupach (49)
66. Dan Seavey (65)

Bib Numbers (X)
Rookie {R}