Stayin' in the Nome: 2022 Iditarod Trail Invitational 1000

 A few years back some friends and I began using the phrase "dumb hobby" when referring to our ultrarunning.  Meant as a term of endearment, we refer to our ultrarunning as a dumb hobby: tons of time and money and effort spent doing something that largely ended with feelings of complete physical and mental exhaustion...and yet, we love every minute of it and would do it all again in a heartbeat.  Those who partake in dumb hobbies aren't right in the head...but also make total sense.

Well, as we speak Ryan Wanless has taken his dumb hobby to the next (possibly highest) level: the 1000 mile version of the Iditarod Trail Invitational on foot. To be very clear, the odds of finishing the race, generally, are long (as in it's really, really hard to finish...and really, really hard to finish on foot).  The odds of finishing this year are no better....the big threats this year, a year of massive snowfall, are overflow and moose (the linked podcast is fantastic...tragic explanation of one racers "why" and then a dive into the dangers of moose on the trail).  He has 30 days to go from the Knik Bar (outside of Wasilla, which is outside of Anchorage) to Nome following the northern route.

He left today at 2pm AKST (they are going to be 3hrs. behind CST), pulling his brand new red sled (On Wisconsin!) and basically wearing a t-shirt (did I mention it was a warm start?).  Here's a link to the Facebook Live of the start (pro tip: look for the guy on skis with the insanely large backpack and Ryan's behind him in a grey hat and blue longsleeves)

Who wants to get hyped?!?!  Check out this two minute video and if it doesn't get you going (or at least get you feeling really, really cold), I can't help you haha!

To follow along without coming to this blog, you can track him through this website (it will also be linked on the left-hand margin).  My plan is to use this site to update as I get updates from Ryan, provide weather forecasts from my weather guru Rick Orchard, analysis from veterans of the race/winter ultras I glean through social media, and relevant research from Mr. Bertsch's 6th Grade class.  It will also serve as a journal, diary, guest book of this adventure :-) In the coming posts, I'll include some links to articles, videos, and podcasts that Ryan and I have enjoyed consuming to learn about the race.

If you have any questions, comment below and I'll try to answer as best I can.  If you have any well wishes or heckles to pass along, comment below and I'll certainly pass those along! Without a doubt, your support is always beyond appreciated.

Settle in fellow dot watchers, we're in it for the long haul this year!

Em