Playing the waiting game

24-hour layovers are the biggest part of Iditarod strategy today for those looking to be first across the finish line in Nome. The scheming started last night when some of the first into McGrath decided that they weren’t going to take an early layover, but use the overnight conditions to push on another 3 hours or so to Takotna and possibly even further if possible. Another half of the leaders decided to gamble that those continuing on might fatigue themselves by going too far, or that an early rest might mean more speed needed to pass the top 5 as they rested themselves. What you’re thinking and planning and what nature has in store can be two different things. Blowing snow covers the trail from Takotna to Ophir and going onto Iditarod presents its own problems. This type of weather could change the plans of those who were counting on a 24-hour layover further along up the trail, and those who were counting on others resting up the trail. Iditarod victories have been born from risky moves in unsetteling weather, but its also a good way to wear out your team unnecessarily.

Aaron Burmesiter continued leading the whole pack into both McGrath and Takotna, this relatively unknown musher from Nome with 11 years of Iditarod experience has caught the eye of an international audience. There is still plenty of competition for his positing though, all of the top ten teams arrived at Takotna within 4 hours of Burmesiter, Neff, and Schnuelle. Keep an eye on Martin Buser, he has been jumping back and forth from the top to the bottom of the standings lately, and his website indicates that he has a plan and some new strategies this year – being the only musher so far to continue out of McGrath after a full 6 hour rest might indicate heavily he plans on pushing as far as possible before taking his 24-hour layover.

It will be hard, but keep in mind that racers will seemingly disappear from the standings as they wait out their layovers – Ken Anderson went from nearly top 5 to being currently represented in the 20s on the standings because he was the first to declare his rest while many others have continued on ahead. Ken will be the first one back on the trail with his mandatory layover complete and will sure aim to regain his position at the front.

Keep an eye on the twitter feed, either on the right side of the page under the “navigation menu” or by subscribing here, these times of waiting can be rough on all of us fans and spectators!