IDITAROD 3/11 A.M.

["ANN SYMONS, JDHS" <JYJDLIB%ALASKA.BITNET@suvm.acs.syr.edu>]

Half way into the race the 24 hours breaks are done and the
leaders head to Ruby.

Leaders onto the Yukon River about midday today

All took roughtly an eight hour break in Cripple in preparation
for the 112 mile trip to Ruby.

Cotter was first to leave last night at 8:00 p.m.,
followed 3 minutes later by Jonrowe

Leaving within the hour for the run through the nite to
Ruby were King, Osmar, Machey, Swenson, Buser and
Wingle

So far 16 teams have left Cripple for the 112 mile run to Riby

Ruby is where the trail meet the Yukon River.  Ruby is also
where it is likely to see teams take an eight hour rest.

Last year there were two mandatory rests - a 12 hour and a 30
hour.

This year the rules have been changed to require three
rests

a 24 hour rest and two 8 hour rests

Head race veterinarian Karen Schmidt commented that the rule
changes regarding rests was for the benefit of the doygs.

The river is one of the areas where the dogs would benefit
from an extended rest.

One rest must be in White Mountain , and the other along
the Yukon River either at Ruby, Galena, Nultato or
Kaltag.

With the pace heating up mushers are likely to want to get
the rest out of the way early

Ruby will be a popular spot.

Thge long run from Cripple will leave the teams needing
a long rest and no one wants to wait too long to take the
mandatory rest of they will find themselves sitting at
a checkpoint watching teams who have already taken
the break run by.

Vern Halter and Charlie Boulding are leading the second pact about
6 hours off the lead.

The following musers are all about within an hour of each
other:

DeSelanos
Butcher
Dronenberg
Brooks
Jacobsen
Persons

(Not sure I have the spelling right - next year we will
put out of full list of the mushers before the race!!)


Last night I reported that Dave Elesen (last night's spelling
was correct) won the halfway prize.

He commented on the radio this a.m. that after he takes
his rest he is not sure what position he will be -
probably no higher than 18 and maybe somewhere in
the 20's.

Olesen from Canda has run the race five times, his best
finish was last year at 22nd.

He has won the sportsman award twice and the coveted
Humanitarian for Dog care award in 1987

Your next reporter will be Laila Tedord from
Marie Drake Middle School in Juneau Alaska starting
tomorrow.

I am leaving for Anchorage tonight for the Alaska Library
Association meeting.  If there are any great tidbits in
Anchorage paper that I don't read on LM-NET I'll
put a message on.

Ann