March 7, 730 AKT
Looks like it was a great start to the race for Trent. To get your bearings straight, a) the Iditarod Race Map with checkpoints b) a table of checkpoint distances and c) another view of race course from GPS tracker are below:
The race started at 2PM AKT yesterday with the first musher leaving the starting line. Trent has bib #58 by luck of the draw, and left a few minutes before 4PM AKT. Trent's strategy was go "low and slow" for the first 300 miles, running "4 to 10" (meaning 4AM to 10AM and 4PM to 10PM to avoid the heat). He's settling in to pretty much the exact rhythm he described pre-race.
Trent went until about 11:15PM last night at an average moving speed of just under 9 mph and camped at about mile 60 before the Skwentna check point. After 5 hours of rest and dog care, he pulled the hook and headed down the trail again at 415AM AKT this morning. Here at 7:40AM AKT, I see him on the GPS tracker at mile 93 since the Willow start. He should take his next rest in 3 hours or so, probably on the other side of Finger Lake checkpoint. He checked in and out of Skwentna with all 16 dogs, let's hope for same at Finger Lake.
Trent's run chart from the GPS tracker is shown below. Look at the green (instantaneous speed) trace and you can see the periods of rest and run clearly.
Here is a graphic fresh off the GPS tracker showing where Trent stands in the field. Remember he started 2 hours later than the low bib numbers and he's employing a 'go slow' strategy.
At this point, he's right in to the 8-9 mph, "run 4 to 10" cadence he wanted for the first 300 miles. If he can keep this up for the 300 miles to the McGrath checkpoint, where he hopes to do his 24 hour layover, with a full team barking and chowing down... he's going to be elated and the team is going to be as strong as a young team can be. However, plans can be forced to change pretty much instantly,...we'll see. Right now it's a great start.