The Adventure is Just Beginning..
It’s day 2 of the Iditarod Trail Invitational, and it has been a blast to watch. Our athletes are going through the motions, and everyone seems to know where they are going for the most part! The start of the race to the Susitna River came with little to no navigational errors, and if you are familiar with the race, you know the first few miles have a spiderweb of snowmobile trails to tempt a wayward athlete. By late afternoon the long line of dots had moved out of the low areas and onto the river, and now there are well over 135 miles between our last foot athlete and first cyclist.
After a short 12 hours into the race our lead biker and Norwegian Justinas Leveika was over 100 miles in and Fairbanks' own Curtis Henry was right behind. Currently they are making their way up the infamous Rainy Pass, but with some wind and weather coming, hopefully they will miss it and maybe take a break in Rohn. They are both skilled athletes but rookies to the ITI, so will this affect them? Time will tell!
There is a respectable line of cyclists still making their way to Puntilla Lake, including our lead female cyclist (also from Fairbanks) Petra Davis who had a very solid day. After a short break at Hooligan's retreat earlier, she told us that she “spent the last 5 years working my way towards this event.” It shows! Right behind her has been rookie Ginny Robbins, snacking on Chex mix, cheese, and ginger cookies hopefully. Ginny has done very well with resting at the checkpoints and then hitting the trail, getting a lot of purposeful miles in. Today the river has been slow but manageable at almost 30-degree day. Getting to Puntilla Lake is hilly, scenic, and filled with “woopdy-doo’s” – relentless little moguls that make getting into a grove difficult.
Further back down the trail, 350 skier and rookie Tucker Costain is absolutely cruising out of Shell Lake after a very solid day with just a two hour nap on the Yentna River. But getting to Shell Lake and a potential stop at the roadhouse was easier-said-than-done for some. Leaving Skwentna, athletes have a long, low swamp to go through and then it’s on to the Shell Hills. There are a lot of small climbs in this section which will wake up the legs after so many miles on the flat rivers. A lot of energy can go into those climbs and not enough energy towards looking for the trail. We watched several athletes take a different route and then turn around, creating a seemingly busy track for others to mistakenly follow. Never fear fellow dot watchers and family members: this is all part of the adventure! Our veteran skier Tracie Curry did not get bonus miles to Shell Lake and has had a solid day as well. This is her second ITI and this trail belongs to her. Our other skier, the always smiling Laura Rushfeldt is a few miles back and took a nice sleep last night before getting on the river. This is her second attempt and she is really looking forward to seeing the trail after Rohn where she dropped last time, and she’ll have her boyfriend to keep her warm… relax, that’s the name of her big puffy coat!
It has been a treat watching some fast and fiery women on foot lay out some miles today. After leap frogging for much of the day, Natalie Taylor is currently in the lead and Alaska’s own Meg Inokuma is a few miles back at a purposeful 4 MPH.
The men's foot division is being led by Jason Mancini competing in his rookie year. Jason has experience doing the Arrowhead 135 unsupported (twice) and that must help with his trail efficiency but the speed must come from his (exquisite) taste in food, the favorite of course is the Little Debbie Unicorn Cakes. Hot on his heels is 1,000 mile foot athlete and honorary Wild Winter Woman, Gavin Hennigan. Gavin is also raising funds to support communities affected by the big storm this summer, information here: https://www.givengain.com/campaign/iditarod-trail-invitational
Annie Connoly has been leading the 150 race for the women, and Sarah Kingstrom and Jen Novobilski have had great days as well. Elsa Rabou is right behind them. We are watching Carol Seppilu from Nome tackle her first 350. She was solid all day and is in familiar territory after completing the 150 last year. Every year, Carol is out welcoming athletes to Nome as they finish their 1,000-mile race, and now it is our turn to cheer for Carol so she can live her dream of walking home.
Another household name is Sunny Stroer, on foot this time after completing the 350 on bike and skis, and the 1,000 mile on skis as well. Sunny’s super power is getting rest with big sleeps when she needs it, and she is showing her strength in the multi sport for sure.
They say if you want to go fast, go alone, and if you want to go far, go together. That certainly is the current theme for our intrepid 1000-mile women's bike division, Mayella Krause and Kendall Park. They have teamed up and cruised through this day like pro’s, including navigating some squirrely river trail to enjoying breakfast at the Yentna Roadhouse. I think this team will be fun to follow!
We are at the beginning of our second night on the trail, and cold will be coming. We started our day with over 12 people sleeping on the last hill before the Susitna River, 10 bikers at Hooligans Retreat, and Justinas leaving Finger Lake before the sunrise. Before the race started, we sent a survey out and so many athletes talked about seeing the northern lights, experiencing what the trail has to offer, sunrises and sunsets. There is an easiness that comes from multiple days on the trail, the hardiness and instinct kicks in. They have already had northern lights last night, but the adventure is just beginning.
Written by Kari Gibbons
Thanks to Wild Winter Women -Allison Carolan,Amanda Harvey,Faye Norby,Jan Redmond Walker,Jessica Roschlan,Leah Gruhn,Laura Wiesmann Hrubes,Lynn K Hall,Madeline Harms,Rashelle Hintz,Rebecca McVay-Brodersen, andSarah Bergstrom,
Coach Janice Tower with Frances and Petra!