The 2012 Iditarod is in its final hours, with Dallas Seavey on his way from the White Mountain checkpoint to the finish line in Nome. Seavey set out of the race’s final 77 miles at 12:22 p.m. ET, which would put him into Nome around 10 p.m. Tuesday night.
Iditarod 2012: Dallas Seavey On His Way To History-Making Run
Ally Zirkle left White Mountain 63 minutes after Seavey, but isn’t giving up yet, even though catching him has been described as “nearly impossible.” Zirkle herself so much as conceded the race to him in White Mountain, saying, “I’m on the defensive now.”
Assuming Seavey, 25, keeps the lead and is the first to reach Nome, he will make Iditarod history, becoming the youngest champion ever to win the race. So how’d he do it? “Speed.”
Other teams tried to claim the lead too early, he said, exhausting their dogs and fizzling away. “As soon as their teams really started coming together, they took off and started racing and tore it all to pieces.”
“I felt like I was in control of this race as early as Ruby and maybe even Cripple, but we didn’t even make a move until we were well on our way to Unalakleet,” Seavey said.
For the final run, Seavey will wear pair of lightweight “snow sneakers,” allowing him to run along side his sled for added speed.
The winner of the Iditarod gets $50,400, and a new pick-up truck.
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