All the Bikers Have Finished, Winds in Norton Bay, and Downhills That Slap!
Today we saw the final two bikers reach Nome!
Janice Tower (bike) - Finishing this afternoon was the second biker in the 1,000-mile race and likely the most decorated racer in this year’s race, and possibly ever. Janice is the OG. Her first ITI was in 2002. Prior to this year, she started the ITI 350 six times and finished four times. In addition to that she completed the Susitna 100 11 times, White Mountains 100 4 or 5 times, and the Arrowhead 135 once. Her motto is to “Dream big and dare to fail,” which is attributed to Norman Vaughan. He was tremendously influential in the world of polar exploration, mountaineering, and the Iditarod, completing the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race for the last time at the age of 84. She considers going over the Alaska Range to be the best feeling in the world, and this year she wanted to see what’s beyond McGrath. She recently became a grandmother, is 63 years young, and raced with her brother Matt (aged 66). Janice and Matt have raced to McGrath together, and she found it to be a joy to share this experience with him. They had hoped to cross under the burled arch in Nome together. …and then go fishing together this spring! Thanks for being an inspiration and showing us what is possible!
Matt Tanaka (bike) - Matt has completed the 350 twice prior. He didn’t set out with a goal time, but rather that he would simply “get there when he gets there.” His favorite food on the trail is pizza and his least favorites are those things that make him go barf and give him the dry heaves. Three things that he cannot live without on the trail are water, food, and sleep. Go figure. This is some simple advice for folks potentially interested in the ITI - Check it! Other words of wisdom from Matt - “Like life is a journey. You don’t know how it will go. But without putting your best foot forward and giving it your best you’ll never know. Never be afraid to simply try.
Over in the 53rd annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race today, Anna Berington reached the finish line in Nome very early this morning, traveling 1,128 miles from Fairbanks to Nome. She completed her 13th Iditarod, and had her highest finishing place ever - 13th place. Lucky 13! Also early this morning Samantha LaLonde finished the Iditarod earning the honor of Rookie of the Year, awarded to the highest ranking rookie, coming in 15th place (NB: Sam’s partner is Tucker Costain, who won the men’s race on skis to McGrath this year)! This afternoon Wild Winter Woman Emily Ford completed the Iditarod in 18th place, also in her rookie year. Emily has only been running dog teams in Alaska since 2023, but prior to that she and her dog hiked the 1,200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Hiking Trail in Wisconsin. Her dream is to show that the outdoors is for everyone. No matter your background, you deserve to feel comfortable and successful in outdoor spaces. Emily, we are elated for you and for what you accomplished!
Tonight the party in Nome is at the Nome Recreation Center for the Iditarod 53 Finisher's Banquet. It’s the awards ceremony for the Iditarod and is a celebration of music and community, the mushers, dogs, sponsors, and everyone who loves the Iditarod and all that it represents. There are speeches from all of the mushers and race officials. Awards are presented, and there is an impressive buffet of food. Many of the ITI racers who finished in the past few days are there tonight, making memories that they will never forget.
Oh but let’s not forget, there are still athletes on the trail. At this point, only four racers remain in the ITI race: three on foot and one on skis. They are all on the coast. How cool is it to start at Knik Bar, across the street from the ocean, travel all the way across Alaska (which is a big state, in case you haven’t heard), across the Alaska Range, through the interior, along the Yukon River, Kaltag Portage, and then to emerge at the coast again?! As Beat Jegerlehner once said - “The coast will blow you away! … and not just because it’s windy.”
Jon Richner (foot) and Erick Basset (ski) - They left Shaktoolik this morning and headed north into wind chills of -20 to -30 deg F. They took a rest at Little Mountain shelter cabin around 6 pm this evening. It is forecasted to continue to be a cool and breezy evening, so I am sure that they are well bundled up for the crossing of Norton Bay to Koyuk in the moonlight.
Kari Gibbons and Petr Ineman (both on foot) - Kari and Petr have continued to travel together. Last night they had a pretty good headwind coming into Unalakleet, but were rewarded with a pizza party at Peace on Earth Pizza in Unalakleet, complete with pizza, salads, and NA beer. Today Kari is fueled by a Big Daddy cookie and pizza. Petr reports that he’s feeling good, everything is going according to plan, and that they are on schedule. Today involved some climbing, as well as top-notch sledding opportunities. Kari reported, "Girl, I have so many favorite sections, but I really absolutely love the blueberry hills, and that last one down slaps, what a wonderful ride, what a glorious day!"
What is next for the ITI racers? The forecast tomorrow in Shaktoolik calls for a cool morning, but sunny conditions and a high temperature of 9 degrees with a north wind of 10 to 15 mph. Certainly chilly and breezy conditions, but doable for our intrepid athletes!
Author: Leah Gruhn