The Halfway Doldrums and Finish Line Fever
Norton Sound, photo by Leah Gruhn, 2024
And then there were 21.
Twenty-one athletes remain on a lengthy stretch of the Iditarod Trail between White Mountain and Galena. As more and more athletes approach Norton Sound, they have faced perhaps the most climactic stage of the race: the dodgy sea ice crossing to Koyuk, followed by more crossings and challenging coastal conditions. After hundreds of miles through Alaska's Interior, the burled arch finally feels within reach for some, creating mounting excitement for both athletes and dot-watchers as the lead bikers head into White Mountain this afternoon. The question hangs in the air: Will the lead bikers outpace the lead mushers to become the first racers to pass under the new burled arch? More on the lead men's bikers at the end…
Early this morning, Julie Perilla Garcia—holding second position in the women's bike category—and Karl Booth departed Shaktoolik behind Ryan Wanless. They pushed toward Little Mountain. Team Tanaka was resting at Little Mountain when Julie, Karl, and Ryan rolled in around 6 AM (quick PSA: trackleaders appears to have not updated their clocks with daylight savings). According to Emily Wanless, Ryan had planned this early morning push to take advantage of firm trails. However, upon arriving at Little Mountain, he found the wind had picked up considerably and decided to wait, choosing to make the Norton Sound sea ice crossing in proper daylight. Though trail breakers did come through yesterday, the trail on the ice has since blown in under the harsh conditions.
Team Tanaka was first to set forth across the ice from Little Mountain around 7:30 AM. Julie, Karl, and Ryan followed behind within the hour. While the morning winds over Norton Bay appeared moderate at 10-15 MPH, forecasts predicted a slight increase this afternoon and by 2 PM the bikers appeared to be moving straight into a 20 mph headwind. Progress has thus been slow today for these five, moving at mostly walking/pushing speeds for the past six hours and still just over halfway across the sound to Koyuk. Tonight's rest will be well-earned indeed.
Ahead of them, the middle pack of bikers (Matt, Perry, Thomas, and Troy) are moving through the slow-going section from Koyuk to Elim, but they appear to be getting it done.
For the foot athletes some 250 miles back, reaching Ruby recently may have represented a milestone. This "halfway point" of the 1,000-mile race marks the beginning of the Yukon River section, offering fewer climbs and more frequent villages to benchmark one's progress.
What does being 500 miles into a race and "halfway there" truly feel like? The answer varies by athlete, conditions, and likely how recently they've eaten a snack. Beyond checkpoint efficiency and the importance of rest, athletes must maintain self-discipline to address any new problems immediately rather than waiting for checkpoints—changing socks regularly and applying barrier creams to protect skin, for example. This becomes increasingly challenging during difficult weather conditions and as fatigue and sleep debt accumulate.
Mental approaches probably vary dramatically at this stage for foot/ski athletes. Some racers may gain momentum from crossing the halfway threshold. Though probably rare among ITI 1,000 participants, any true pessimists in the field might shudder at the thought of repeating the distance of the last two tough weeks all over again. We glimpse potential mental states only through the actions of their dots—strategic rest breaks, careful pacing, and check-ins back home about any nagging issues—all signs of athletes preparing for the next push while practicing crucial self-preservation.
Our 2024 Veterans report varied mental states around this halfway mark. In 2024, 1,000 bike veteran Leah Gruhn used Galena for a full rest day to reset, recognizing her need to conserve strength: "I was bagged and I had to say goodbye to my friends who I had been seeing each night. I really needed the rest and felt like it was WAY too early to dig myself into a deep hole." 1,000 ski champion Sunny Stroer remembers feeling very tempered, finding little significance in the halfway milestone: "It didn't feel monumental, since there were still 450 miles to go. The first time I really started thinking about overall mileage vs. the day-to-day was once I had made it across Norton Sound." Faye Norby, 1,000 mile veteran, shared “Around Ruby, Galena, and Nulato, I was still so very tired every day but my body was getting used to ‘the going.’ It felt like the race was getting more manageable. I had little niggles, but they would only last for a few hours or maybe a day, so I knew I was getting stronger.” One thing is for sure: this stage of the race may feel more like an expedition than a race, as racers settle into the “new normal” of just another long day on the trail.
Getting back to 2025: Our very own wild winter woman Kari Gibbons reached Galena last night after an impressive 18-hour push from Ruby, maintaining her unwavering steady pace. Unfortunately, her supply box had not arrived in Ruby, but she did have one waiting in Galena so this was a very happy stop for her. She now has a big box of what she called "Big Daddy Cookies" to send her down the trail. She is still adapting to the daily load on her body but is moving well and being efficient in checkpoints. Her mom, Rhende, says Kari got a full eight hours of sleep at Larry's in Galena, plus multiple plates of lasagna, an omelet, and the best care.
After a nice long rest stop in Galena, Kari departed again about two hours after Magdalena Paschke's arrival at the B&B. One hopes Magdalena came in ready for breakfast and that they shared a well-deserved juice box party of their own! Magdalena has consistently followed 8-12 hours behind Kari since McGrath, maintaining an equally steady rhythm of rest and movement. Petr Ineman has positioned himself consistently between Kari and Magdalena, also maintaining steady progress since McGrath. Only Jon Richner remains ahead of Kari, Petr, and Magdalena in the foot field, while lone skier Erick Basset continues to hold his position between Kari and Jon.
Meanwhile, the magnificent seven lead bikers (Roberto, Peter, Tiziano, Mike, Josh, Willy and Casey) face an entirely different mental landscape now, after crossing both Norton Sound and Golovnin Bay and pushing inland to White Mountain this evening. They have less than 100 miles to go to complete this epic journey. They may feel focused on finishing and maybe even a little impatience. Some might even be fighting the urge to make the final push without resting long as "finish line fever" sets in.
But no matter how intense the longing for a finish may feel tonight, they must remain focused on the tasks at hand —rest, fueling their tired bodies, and one more night of menial chores and disciplined self-care. Though they are so close, and the forecast is looking favorable, the remaining challenges—the Topkok hills, the notorious blowhole near Safety Sound, and unpredictable coastal conditions—are not to be taken lightly tomorrow.