Last Great Race and Jerry Reed

Saturday marked the start of my favorite 9ish days of the year - The Last Great Race - the Iditarod. Currently Lance Mackey is in first place. He is quite the character and one of my favorite mushers. This year my friends and I trailgated (yes, trail, that's not a typo) the ceremonial start in Anchorage. For $10 we got a koozie and all the beer we could drink and all the hot dogs we could eat. Probably the best idea ever.

Anyway, back to Lance. When he came by our trailgate, someone tried to hand him a PBR but he missed it. Lance is not one to give up a beer, so he stopped his sled (generally not done) and grabbed the beer then continued on. He nearly caused an accident, but I suspect he thought it was worth it. I assume it was that PBR that put him in first place. You're welcome, Lance.

People riding in the sled during the ceremonial start are called 'iditariders'. It's one of my goals in life.

Martin Buser caused quite the stir this year, after speed-racing to the Rohn check point, he decided to take his mandatory 24 hour rest. Normally teams wait until much later in the race before they take their layover. According to the Anchorage Daily News he's been planning this strategy for 8 months. He was in 30something place while the other mushers raced ahead. Now he's in 8th and everyone ahead of him still needs to take their 24 hour layover. Seems like his strategy might be working. The Iditarod is serious business.

Click to see it larger. Mushers take the southern route at Ophir this year.

I'm rooting for Matt Failor. He was in second place until the Rohn check point, where, like Buser, he took his 24 hour layover. During the ceremonial start Matt also got off his sled at the trailgate. But instead of stopping for a dropped PBR, he stopped to shake hands and say hello to everyone. He could have been a senate candidate - if senate candidates travel with 12 dogs and a large parka.

In the spirit of long distance racing, the hot jam of the week is Eastbound and Down by Jerry Reed. Yes, the theme to Smokey and the Bandit. I heard this song on the radio twice this week. I took it as a sign. If I was an Iditarod musher this is all I would listen to. Screw getting diphtheria serum to Nome, the boys are thirsty in Atlanta. If that's not enough to inspire you, I don't know what is.