ID: Monday Morning - Shaktoolik and Nulato

Good morning!

After a short 1 hour 13 minute stop in Shaktoolik, Aliy and 13 canine Red Team athletes left the checkpoint at 6.55am and are now giving chase to Aaron Burmeister and Dallas Seavey ahead of them, and very mindful of Jessie Royer, Mitch Seavey and the other the teams behind. They are each running quite a different run/rest schedule which makes it difficult to give a clear picture of what's happening. Who is due a rest? Who can go on through to Koyuk some 50-odd miles away?

It's certainly an exciting phase of the race so, if you aren't already, now's the time to send all good vibes and wishes down the trail to them. There's still a lot of racing and a lot of strategy to unfold.



There is a very short video of the team pulling in to 'Shak' and we see Aly is wearing her wind gear but upon leaving she is not so we assume the wind has died down a little this morning. A few of us have poured over the video of the team leaving and it looks to us like it could be Sissy that is not on the line. We will find out for certain over the next day or so and at this stage we are not sure if she will fly back to Anchorage and be with our drop dog crew there or forwards to Nome, where we are. We'll let you know asap.

It looks like Aliy is running Quito in single lead, backed up by Nacho and Schmoe in swing, Scruggs and Scooter, Chica and Waylon, Mismo and Mac, Scout and Izzy and Willie and Clyde in wheel.

Here's a story from KTUU after a quick interview with Aliy in Unalakleet.

Overnight, at 1.43am the Black Team arrived into Nulato checkpoint. Allen left one of his team mates with the veterinarians and volunteers in Koyukuk. As mentioned earlier, it could be some time before we learn who it is so we appreciate your patience as we find out that information. We are just as eager to find out as you.