From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage –

It was a disappointing weekend for middle-distance mushers, many of whom were planning on knocking out a 300-mile qualifier for the Iditarod/Yukon Quest at this year’s Copper Basin 300.

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

Recognize this guy? Me neither.

Sebastian Schnuelle posted this pic on Facebook recently under the title "naked."

...

The "before" photo.

From Mike Campbell in Anchorage --

Renown Jamaican musher Newton Marshall is the subject of a new book by Canadian author John Firth.

“One Mush — Jamaica’s Dog Sled Team” is the account of Marshall’s 2009 Yukon Quest, where he finished 13th. Marshall, who trained at four-time champion Lance Mackey’s Comeback Kennel in Fairbanks, finished 47th in the 2010 Iditarod before scratching in Anvik this year.

From Kyle Hopkins in Anchorage --

How did Kotzebue musher John Baker win the 2011 Iditarod with record speed? Will he be back next year?

And how does the sport's most outspoken heavyweight feel about missing an unprecedented fifth-straight win?

Here they are in their own words. These raw, unedited clips are from long interviews with each champion shortly after they arrived in Nome. Normally I do some rudimentary editing to get the videos down to a few minutes in order to upload from remote villages and make it easier to watch fresh clips each day.

If you're fan of each musher there's a lot here that didn't make it into any of this year's Iditarod coverage. Baker, in particular, talks candidly about his efforts to control the speed of his challengers:

It's been a great race. Time to slow down Iditarod coverage and cool it, for the most part, with tweets on www.twitter.com/iditarodlive.

For more on what Iditarod 2011 looked like from behind the sleds of the world's top dog teams, check back for new raw footage of record-smashing champion John Baker & former champ Lance Mackey.

In the meantime, thanks for reading and extra thanks to all the mushers who talked to us along the trail. We'll see you soon.

-- Kyle in Anchorage

ADN reporter Kyle Hopkins followed the mushers along the Iditarod trail and shot video throughout. Below is a collection of interviews with four-time defending champion Lance Mackey chronicling the ups and downs of his chances to win, the health of his dogs, and his overall demeanor as the rigors of the race take hold. Watch the progression.

March 7: Mackey in Rainy Pass: 'I'm comfortable at the front'

Lance Mackey at the arm-wrestling competition @ Breakers bar in Nome. Bob Hallinen/Anchorage Daily News. Mackey came in second.

Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.

Blessed with nearly ideal weather, the 2011 Iditarod saw 17 racers finish under 10 days, paced by John Baker’s record time of 8 days, 18 hours, 47 minutes.

In a way, the 10-day Iditarod has become the mushing equivalent of the 4-minute mile in track.

But before 1995, it never happened.

Doug Swingley of Montana, winner of the 1995 race, was the first under 10 hours. Swingley was a superb musher but he — and mushers who followed — benefited from a rule change, too.

From Kyle Hopkins in Nome --

Martin Buser, an early leader in this year's Iditarod, describes mistakes he made along the trail. But it wasn't necessarily going to fast, he said. Also: How does he feel about John Baker breaking his old speed record?

From Kyle Hopkins in Nome --

2011 Iditarod champion John Baker talks to reporters about his response to the Alaska Native drumming that met him at the finish line, and winning his first Iditarod after 15 years of top finishes.

Wednesday, 3:20 p.m. update
Ellen Halverson of Wasilla could be on the way to creating Iditarod history she’d just as soon avoid — the only two-time red lantern winner. The Big Lake psychiatrist, who moved here from North Dakota, earned that distinction in 2007, when she was last among 58 mushers.

Four-time Iditarod champ Jeff King of Denali Park is kicking off a speaking tour in September.

A competitive musher for 33 years, King has logged more than 150,000 miles on a dogsled. He's also an author, and now, a guest speaker.

“I look forward to this next chapter of my career,” King said in a press release from Ad Lynx, North America, which is coordinator his tour. “We’ve hosted over 100,000 visitors at the Husky Homestead over the past 20 years and I hope to reconnect with them on tour.”

From Kyle Hopkins in Nome --

Lance Mackey arrived in 16th place today at 8:55 a.m., saying he's rebuilding his sled dog team around new leader Wilson and looking ahead to 2012.

"The top 15 guys and some of the ones behind me have been trying to beat me for the last four years," Mackey said. "And they all got their shot at once.

From Kyle Hopkins in Nome --

Baker with Snickers (left) and Velvet (right)

Name: Velvet & Snickers
Eyes: Blue (Velvet), Brown (Snickers)
Age: 4 (Velvet), 6 (Snickers)
Position: Lead
Musher: John Baker, Kotzebue

“They ran last year’s race in lead all by themselves the whole way,” Baker said. “And this year I gave Velvet a break two times. For two runs. And other than that, they’ve run the race in lead all by themselves.

“Like People always talk about in our kennel, how lazy I am with the dogs, because I don’t have to do much. They do everything for me. They turn and they go wherever I want. However fast I want. They’re just really a pleasure to be with.”

From Kyle Hopkins in Nome --

Smyth broke the Iditarod speed record. On his birthday. And it still wasn't enough.

From Kyle Hopkins in Nome --

Kotzebue musher John Baker, moments after posting the fastest Iditarod time in history.

From Kyle Hopkins in Nome --

Smyth calls the trek into White Mountain his toughest run ever.

The office: Hitching a ride back to Nome with the talented Jill Burke and the Alaska Dispatch crew. A lot of stories are written on laptops in the air between villages. (Stephen Nowers/Alaska Dispatch photo)

Thanks guys! Pizza's on me tonight. -- Kyle