March 14, 2012 40th Iditarod Champion!! Dallas Seavey!!

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Nome Finish
Time It Right & Welcome Three Mushers
By Joe Runyan

4 AM Wednesday – Nome – A stream of mushers follow in the tracks of 2012 Champ Dallas Seavey, filter into Nome at unconscionable hours. My hotel room phone rings at 4 a.m. and Dave Olson, a good friend of mine and also the 2012 Honorary Musher says, “You better get up, John (Baker, last year’s Champ) is coming in and we can catch Mitch Seavey and Mike Williams, Jr.” It’s a triple play, but it’s also an indicator of the effort required by a dedicated Iditarod fan.

Thinking I have cleverly laid out the right clothes for a comfortable 30 minute survival effort in the finish chute, I quickly finish lacing my sneakers, and throw on a parka. Technically, I’ll be dead if I stay out for longer than 45 minutes , so all is critical as I zip up my park exiting the hotel door. Timing is perfect in the finish chute. Congratulating Mike Williams, shaking hands with his dad Mike Williams, Sr. it seems my game plan is on. I really enjoyed the quiet dignity of Mike Williams, Jr. when I had the opportunity to talk to him in White Mountain. He was feeding his dogs chunks of whale blubber and explained to me how he fed it, noting that his dogs had acquired a demanding taste for it. Mik e had gradually moved himself in the top ten, and it seemed that he had a sure lock on the top ten. 77 miles later, he is in 8th place, a wonderful accomplishment and a tribute to his steady strategy and his obvious affection for his dogs. You can read the rest of Joe’s article at Iditarod.com