A note on strategy
Our region—above the Arctic Circle—has gained so much daylight already that mushers only need headlamps a few hours each night. But that also means it’s all that much more important to use that night time to mush and try to rest during the heat of the day...1/
Our region—above the Arctic Circle—has gained so much daylight already that mushers only need headlamps a few hours each night. But that also means it’s all that much more important to use that night time to mush and try to rest during the heat of the day...1/
While humans may be wide awake in the early/mid-afternoon, sled dogs often have the least daily energy at that time and have the most energy during the dark nocturnal hours—which also happen to be the time the trail itself might be the hardest/fastest (depending on weather)... 2/
So it’s ideal if teams can rest in the warm sun during “the heat of the day.” 3/
But there’s a catch.
That rest only “counts” (toward fulfillment of required rest hours) if it happens at a checkpoint. 4/
That rest only “counts” (toward fulfillment of required rest hours) if it happens at a checkpoint. 4/
So, while you’ll often see teams stop for a couple hours en route to Ambler and on the way home after Ambler (there are some nice shelters to stop and build a fire and rest or dry gear while team rests), those teams are typically puppy teams or those using race as a qualifier 5/
(The K440 is a qualifier race for the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest ultramarathons.) 6/
Or, some teams who stop may just be out on the trail hoping to race against their personal best or have a good time out there without being super competitive. 7/
Unless there is challenging weather / trail condition, the front end teams will typically make the long-ish run to Ambler, trying to get there and take rest before the heat of the day, thereby maximizing efficiency... 8/
That accounts for how mushers decide how much rest to take in Noorvik or Kiana. They’re actually focused on the next checkpoint or two, thinking about Ambler and getting thru that run before it becomes a relatively sluggish mid-afternoon run on a slow sunny trail. 9/
But it’s a fine line because the dog teams will slow down when they haven’t had a long rest preceding the run. Rest = Speed
The calculations they make are all about what works best for their dogs’ energy levels. 10/
The calculations they make are all about what works best for their dogs’ energy levels. 10/
It appears Nic, Gunnar, Ryan, Tony, & Jeff are set up to make it to Ambler & rest. But don’t be surprised if the teams in the back break the trip to Ambler into multiple runs.
Which may, as the race goes on, divide the race field into 2 groups: those who rested on trail vs not.
Which may, as the race goes on, divide the race field into 2 groups: those who rested on trail vs not.
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