Despite his rookie status, Tunheim has done well. While veterans know nearly every twist and turn of the trail, Tunheim pulls into checkpoints full of questions. Sometimes there are no answers. When he watched defending champion Jeff King leave Rohn, a checkpoint just north of the Alaska Range, he wondered why the veteran wasn't putting booties on his dogs, but he didn't want to ask. A mile out of the checkpoint, Tunheim ran into overflow and understood.
Mushers have to change the dogs' booties if they get wet.
If he stayed in the top 10, it would be an impressive feat. The best finish by an Iditarod rookie is ninth. The longest race his dogs have ever run is the 675-mile Finnmarkslopet, a Scandanavian competition he has won three times. While Tunheim is still doing well, some race observers are wondering if his run at the top may not end quickly. Tunheim harbors no delusions.