Although summer may be on its way, eventually, I am still watching rebel snowflakes fall outside my window here in Montana. Meanwhile, our Team Managers have wrapped up their Idita-Read details with event-end celebrations, and I'll soon be asking them for some helpful feedback to help us make Idita-Read.org even better for 2012. Thanks to everyone for their enthusiasm and dedication!
Here's a short summary from our record-breaking year, now in our 5th season:
• Participating students: 4,768 (45% more than last year!)
• Teams: 160
• Total race mileage (minutes reading): 4,869,905 (54% more than last year!)
• Total Book Reviews: 2,660 (41% more than last year!)
• Regions represented: 29 U.S. states + 6 countries
We look forward to seeing our veterans - and newcomers - for next year's race. Meanwhile, stay tuned for our new offering, Read-A-Route!
Next Race Starts: March 5, 2011
Training opens: February 1
Sign-up now!
Visit Idita-Read.org for more information about how to sign-up to participate.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Push Hard In This Final Stretch!
Okay, everyone — just a few days left to really push yourself to read, read, READ! We are routing for everyone to reach the Finish Line this week — you can DO IT!
Nearly 2,000 mushers have Finished the race, but there is plenty of room for an even bigger party for everyone else on their way to join the celebration.
Everyone has been doing so AMAZING, and we are proud of each and every one of our participants. Some may be on Spring Break the week, and so I promise that we will make sure to give your Team Managers time to wrap-up your final mileage records when you get back to school next week. So, don't slow down — take time to read at home and rack up your mileage to get to Nome!
Meanwhile, keep those Book Reviews coming. Your reviews will be great reads all year long for everyone, so keep up the great work and taking time to share those!
Nearly 2,000 mushers have Finished the race, but there is plenty of room for an even bigger party for everyone else on their way to join the celebration.
Everyone has been doing so AMAZING, and we are proud of each and every one of our participants. Some may be on Spring Break the week, and so I promise that we will make sure to give your Team Managers time to wrap-up your final mileage records when you get back to school next week. So, don't slow down — take time to read at home and rack up your mileage to get to Nome!
Meanwhile, keep those Book Reviews coming. Your reviews will be great reads all year long for everyone, so keep up the great work and taking time to share those!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Nearing 4 Million Miles — A New Record!
Every time I post that we're nearing another milestone in the race, it only takes our amazing readers about a day or so to hit — and surpass — that mark. How TOTALLY COOL is that? Our mushers are WAAAAAAAY cool, I say ;-)
Yep, with almost 1,500 Finishers and many more getting closer to Nome every day, we are bound to keep up a record-breaking pace. AWESOME JOB, everyone!
With 11 days still left in the race, this event is far from over, but don't dawdle in getting those miles won — I encourage you to read a little extra every day to ensure that you will finish before the end of the race.
AND... I want to thank all of our mushers for not only taking time to read, but also to write those great Book Reviews. The contributions, the writing, and the book selections just get better and better every year!
Yep, with almost 1,500 Finishers and many more getting closer to Nome every day, we are bound to keep up a record-breaking pace. AWESOME JOB, everyone!
With 11 days still left in the race, this event is far from over, but don't dawdle in getting those miles won — I encourage you to read a little extra every day to ensure that you will finish before the end of the race.
AND... I want to thank all of our mushers for not only taking time to read, but also to write those great Book Reviews. The contributions, the writing, and the book selections just get better and better every year!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Reading Stars Rack Up the Miles
WOW — our readers racked up another MILLION MILES over the last week! Our total number of mushers reaching the Finish Line is nearing a thousand, with many more heading that way with great progress!
In this week's report on Team progress, Team Michele Collins has trekked across a lot of ground and are now neck-in-neck with the Icebergs, both with more than an average of 1,400 miles per musher and nearly ALL of their teams crossing the Finish and the rest very close to that goal. The Hauswirth team is also going strong with nearly that much mileage under their belts (well, collars) and only two mushers left to finish.
Honestly, the list of amazing readers goes on and on in this race, so make sure to follow their ongoing achievements for yourself on the Teams page, Trail Stats, and the rapidly growing list of Finishers.
With three more weeks to go in the race, we hope to see all of our participants reach the goal by the 22nd — Keep up the phenomenal efforts, everyone!
In this week's report on Team progress, Team Michele Collins has trekked across a lot of ground and are now neck-in-neck with the Icebergs, both with more than an average of 1,400 miles per musher and nearly ALL of their teams crossing the Finish and the rest very close to that goal. The Hauswirth team is also going strong with nearly that much mileage under their belts (well, collars) and only two mushers left to finish.
Honestly, the list of amazing readers goes on and on in this race, so make sure to follow their ongoing achievements for yourself on the Teams page, Trail Stats, and the rapidly growing list of Finishers.
With three more weeks to go in the race, we hope to see all of our participants reach the goal by the 22nd — Keep up the phenomenal efforts, everyone!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
More than 2 Million Miles on the Trail!
Yesterday, Idita-Read.org hit two new milestones. The first is that our awesome and amazing mushers had collectively logged more than TWO MILLION minutes of reading time after just two weeks on the trail! The second milestone is that the race has grown, serving 1,000 more active participants this year than during the 2010 race — that's more than a one-third increase. Way to go teachers and parents in getting your students hot on the trail!
Meanwhile, in the Iditarod race, only 47 mushers reached Nome, but we are proud to announce that more than 500 Idita-Readers have reached Nome and beyond, with the ticker steadily rising.
Reporting on the Teams this week, the Icebergs are leading the pack with a 1,137-mile average per musher and nearly half of their team crossing the Finish. Right behind them is the Hauswirth Team with an average of 1,005 miles and about half finished, as well. Team Alyson Meyer, Team Amy Henretty, and Team Elizabeth Brindley are nose-to-nose with all just under an average of a thousand miles per musher. But many others are catching up quickly — GO FOR IT, EVEYRONE!
Meanwhile, in the Iditarod race, only 47 mushers reached Nome, but we are proud to announce that more than 500 Idita-Readers have reached Nome and beyond, with the ticker steadily rising.
Reporting on the Teams this week, the Icebergs are leading the pack with a 1,137-mile average per musher and nearly half of their team crossing the Finish. Right behind them is the Hauswirth Team with an average of 1,005 miles and about half finished, as well. Team Alyson Meyer, Team Amy Henretty, and Team Elizabeth Brindley are nose-to-nose with all just under an average of a thousand miles per musher. But many others are catching up quickly — GO FOR IT, EVEYRONE!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Yesterday, Alaska Native John Baker won the Iditarod race — congratulations to him and his team!
In our Idita-Read, well over 200 mushers have also crossed the Finish Line. Many more will follow that awesome achievement over the next several weeks, with nearly 4,000 mushers making progress on the trail — WOW!
In addition to browsing through the Book Reviews, I have enjoyed following our Teams. For those who have not yet discovered on this website, when you click a team's name, the team's page displays. The page shows summary of statistics and complete list of team members. The team map shows not only the distribution of each team member along the trail, but also when you click a paw icon on the map, then that musher's name will display. His or her last book review will also pop up in that bubble. Pretty cool ;-)
Similarly, clicking an individual musher's name will display that student's personal stats page, along with any book reviews they have shared with the Idita-Read.org community. Thanks to everyone for showing what you have been reading and have learned about these stories!
In our Idita-Read, well over 200 mushers have also crossed the Finish Line. Many more will follow that awesome achievement over the next several weeks, with nearly 4,000 mushers making progress on the trail — WOW!
In addition to browsing through the Book Reviews, I have enjoyed following our Teams. For those who have not yet discovered on this website, when you click a team's name, the team's page displays. The page shows summary of statistics and complete list of team members. The team map shows not only the distribution of each team member along the trail, but also when you click a paw icon on the map, then that musher's name will display. His or her last book review will also pop up in that bubble. Pretty cool ;-)
Similarly, clicking an individual musher's name will display that student's personal stats page, along with any book reviews they have shared with the Idita-Read.org community. Thanks to everyone for showing what you have been reading and have learned about these stories!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Look at 'em Go — 1 Million Miles & Counting!
Another Idita-Read.org milestone was reached today — 1 million miles (minutes of reading time), and I can't believe how quickly our counter keeps turning! Everyone is doing an outstanding job reading hard and sharing the great books that are moving them along to the Finish Line!
In tracking our Idita-Read Teams, I have been especially watching the average miles per musher that has been logged. In the large team division, with around 40-50 or so members, the Awesome SJS Readers have been leading the pack, followed by Team Elizabeth Brindley and Team Alyson Meyer.
In the smaller team division, those with 10-20 members, the Maryland Mushers for Christ are leading the way, with the Reading Rascals moving up quickly behind them.
AWESOME!
Meanwhile, on the ground, Iditarod musher John Baker is leading the race, heading out from the Elim checkpoint this morning, with Ramey Smith hot on his heels.
In tracking our Idita-Read Teams, I have been especially watching the average miles per musher that has been logged. In the large team division, with around 40-50 or so members, the Awesome SJS Readers have been leading the pack, followed by Team Elizabeth Brindley and Team Alyson Meyer.
In the smaller team division, those with 10-20 members, the Maryland Mushers for Christ are leading the way, with the Reading Rascals moving up quickly behind them.
AWESOME!
Meanwhile, on the ground, Iditarod musher John Baker is leading the race, heading out from the Elim checkpoint this morning, with Ramey Smith hot on his heels.
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