Go, Ramy, Go!

People relying on official Iditarod statistics might think Ramy was having a terribly difficult race. Statistics have consistently shown him as barely striking the Top 20. Our reporter on the trail, Roxy, however, just reported Ramy as having left Shageluk over an hour ago -- putting him squarely in 5th place, about 3 1/2 hours behind the race leaders.

Official Iditarod stats show him as being in 18th place and still not having left the Iditarod checkpoint, which he entered late last night. Glad that we have Roxy on the trail telling us the true story, or we would be worried about him and wondering what is going on. He must be quite stealth in his exit from each checkpoint, because it takes a good 12 hours (until he is through another checkpoint) for anybody to show he even left the previous checkpoint.

The top 4 runners are very close together. Another strategic move by Ramy to catch up, or seeing the top 4 tire out from running so closely together trying to stay ahead, or a bad patch of weather or trail could definately put him in striking distance. Go, Ramy, Go!