Ugh. This race is STILL going on. I am so tired, and I'm not even a Musher.
After taking an early lead, Sebastian Schnuelle is now in 2nd place, and about 9 hours behind the leader, two time Iditarod Champ Lance Mackey. Mackey made it to the Yukon River first, and the first to make it there traditionally gets a gourmet meal and $3,500 cash. It wasn't an easy place to reach first, though, Mackey has been battling extreme fatigue and hallucinations, as he claims he has probably slept a dozen hours since the start of the race Sunday. On route to the Yukon River checkpoint, Mackey dozed off and came to an hour later, way off the trail with very confused dogs pulling him. This mistake could have cost him the race, as he was an hour off the trail with no markers in sight, and the dogs do not appreciate being turned around, as this means (to them) they have done something wrong. So it is apparantely a big blow to their egos and they feel demoralized. The dogs punished him by running at half their normal speed. Hilarious, little K9 revenge, I love it! Mackey also is beginning to have hallucinations. En route to the Yukon River checkpoint, he passed a girl in the middle of nowhere, who delightfully greeted him with a friendly smile and waved - as she sat knitting. Except there was no girl. So now all the Musher's are going crazy, as if they weren't nuts enough already.
I am going nuts too. I just read that sometimes the Iditarod can take 9 to 15 days to finish. Please pray for 9 days, as it has only been 6 days since the start. I am beginning to hallucinate happy smiling waving knitting girls by just following this story!
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