Idaho endurance cyclist Jay Petervary set a new race record in the Iditarod Trail Invitational early Wednesday. The 350 mile race follows part of Alaska’s famous Iditarod trail. The 40 year old Petervary is among 36 bikers and runners who started their race near Anchorage Sunday.
“I didn’t sleep at all and I didn’t spend an hour at any checkpoint," Petervary says.
Petervary pedaled across the finish line in McGrath, after two days, 19 hours and 16 minutes. He shaved nearly ten hours off the previous record set in 2007. The race is often dominated by heavy snow, sub-zero temperatures and high winds. It’s a trail that climbs over the Alaska Range, home to North America’s tallest mountain. Petervary says good conditions and warm weather - by Alaskan standards - helped his record-breaking performance.
“I think when it comes to the Iditarod Trail Invitational, you can’t really make a plan, you just have to come prepared," he says. "I don’t like to try to say that I’m going for the win, or I’m going for the record when I know there’s so many variables, weather being the biggest one that could change the whole event.”
Petervary is from Victor, Idaho, near the Wyoming border. He’s now completed the race five times, never placing lower than sixth. He says he only decided two weeks ago to make the trip north this year.
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