Half Time

Like all sports we have to endure a half time as the teams rest up and plan their next strategic moves. It appears from reading a few blogs coming from reporters in Takotna...that the bulk of the mushers may just be settling in for their mandatory 24 hour break....so on with the show... Racing for his 32 year is 58 year old Rick Swenson, wearing bib number 8. (He did have to withdrawl from one race and scratched in another) Known as the "King of Iditarod" and the "Winningest Musher" I am guessing he wont retire until he has had the chance to once again take on a Mackey at the finish line. Racing his second race in 1978 he showed great sportsmanship when a photo finish showed his six dog team, even though his sled crossed first, actually lost to Dick Mackeys eight dog team by "half a muzzle". A record finish going down in history as the closest race finish. 1983 another close finish but the race title left Swenson's hands as it was once again passed on to a Mackey, Rick Mackey, who proceeded his father in racing after his fathers muzzle famous finish. Lance Mackey and Rick Swenson have been on the trail several times competing against each other over the last few years, Will Rick get that chance to once again go muzzle to muzzle with a Mackey on the Main Street of Nome? This year is would be hard to do, Rick is at least 24 hours behind the leader at the moment and Mackey is just two hours. Rick also left in eighth position and is now in 27th while Mackey left in 47th position and is now in fourth. But Swenson is known for coming up from behind and making his move at the last minute often winning the race by mere minutes...