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.

"So now it's over with. I'll be back," he said.

I just finished a long interview with Mackey and hope to have much more, including video, soon.

Mackey said his rapid final run to Nome shows how fast his team is.

"I've been on a training trip since Nikolai with plans for the next year or two," he said.

(Told that Ken Anderson had been previously been fastest from Safety to Nome this year, Mackey said, "Not anymore.")

Meantime, the star of this year's Iditarod -- record-smashing champion John Baker -- talked to reporters for roughly half an hour.

"I've wanted to accomplish this for so long, it's just taking awhile to sink in," Baker said.

While Baker's not ruling out returning for next year's Iditarod, he always planned to at least take a break after winning the championship. Right now, he's not planning to run in 2012 but will be talking to sponsors and others about what he'll do next.

Baker, a motivational speaker to students in rural Alaska, will continue to bring his message about setting goals and working hard to villages in the northwest and North Slope.

“I’ve always said that once I won, that I wouldn’t be doing this again. I wouldn’t have a reason to do it," Baker said. "But I like it. I like this life. And What else would I want to do? I don’t know.”

"I like being out in the country. I like being involved with the dogs. So There isn’t anything else I want to do.

For now, he’s looking forward to watching the NBA Finals.

“I like L.A.,’ he said.

I'll be updating with more from the former champion and the new champion soon.

Lance Mackey checks his watch at the finish line in Nome today. (Bob Hallinen)