reading the learer board and stats

[arctic.musher]

my son has noticed on the reader board that the average speed and time enroute do not always add up. sometimes teams that have a slower average speed also have a shorter time enroute. and get to the checkpoint in less time then a team with a faster average speed.

so when we read the chart does the average speed take into account the time that the team stops to rest between checkpoints? How are they figuring the average speed?

thanks

[Iditarod Staff]

The time is from checkpoint departure to checkpoint arrival. How much time a musher rests between checkpoints is part of the time from checkpoint to checkpoint.
Sometimes the out time is an estimation because mushers don't have to sign out.
The arrival time is accurate because mushers must sign in.