Amazingly, participants in the 2006 Iditarod Sled Dog Race have already reached the half way point after only 4 days on the trail! Whitle it's true that the race is usually won in 8 or 9 days it never ceases to amaze me how much distance these mushers cover in such a short period of time.

One of the best things for me about the race is that, no matter who wins, I always feel like they deserved it. This isn't a sport where there are weird rules with time outs and officials who may need eyeglasses or may have greased palms. If you've basically run from from Willow to Nome Alaska with a team of sled dogs and you've done something! And if you've gotten there in front of everybody else there's no way anybody can deny your skill, drive, stamina and luck AND that of your dogs, who are the true heros of the sport.

Unluckily, dogs are unable to give interviews.....

so usually I do wind up rooting for someone. This year, my favorite is Dee Dee Jonrowe, a long time musher, breast cancer survivor and fundraiser. She's a musher known for her love of her team mate dogs, and is also a perenial second place finisher. In any sport I'm apt to cheer for the underdog. Here I can cheer for a whole team of "underdogs" - decked out in hot pink collars, coats, and ganglines nonetheless! What's not to love?

At this point in the race Paul Gephardt, who has always been a musher to watch ( he builds his own sleds!) has busted a move and swung into first place, with Doug Swingley, hot on his tail. Swingley is going after his 5th first place win this year. Jonrowe is just behind them, and anything can happen in the days ahead!

I'd really like to see Dee Dee make it in first this year. It's not that Swingley and Gephardt aren't good guys...okay, I admit that the "girl power" angle plays into making her a favorite. (Though I could just sit and stare at Ramey Brooks all day long! That man is HOT!)

Anyway, feel free to visit one of the many race sites, learn about the sport and the mushers and pick a favorite of your own. I guarentee, you'll feel like spring is in the air at YOUR house after virtually visiting the Iditarod Trail!