View from Homer

The race rule change allowing the six hour mandatory layover to be taken in increments and as needed is certainly interesting to see play out. Paul Gebhardt has often pushed to Aniak to take his six hour layover. He now has the advantage to take some rest in Kalskag and then push on. I think if history serves me the race started with the mandatory layover being taken in Aniak. For years now mushers have blazed through Aniak stopping to snack the dogs and grab some grub. Now Aniak spectators will get to have some time with mushers and see the athletes. I am sure this will be a very welcome change.

Jeff King posted the fastest time so far on the way to Aniak but the top five are all still very close at the halfway point. I am eager to see if they all finish the mandatory six in Aniak knowing they will have another 4 hour layover in Tuluksak on the way down. The race is never run in perfect weather; it is always one extreme or the other. The slick wet trail can present various issues. Dogs can slip and hurt shoulders easier. It is also harder to set the cruise control to the desired MPH. Mushers that train in good snow conditions are often surprised by the absence of snow as they fly around the K300 trail. Dogs wear boots almost constantly during races these days, so foot injuries are not what they used to be in snow less conditions. I'm pretty sure this is the standard, anyway... I have been out of the loop for quite some time. Please correct me if I am wrong about any of this.

Congratulations to Schouviller on his Bogus creek 150 win. He is one of the friendliest guys in the sport and has always done well. I don't think he has done the K300 yet but I think his entry fee will be paid next year. It is one way the K300 tries to get local mushers into the longer distance race. Schouviller is a previous winner of the Akiak Dash and has won several other local races. It will be exciting to see if he gets into distance racing as other local sprint mushers have.