Idiotarod 2007: Madness, Mayhem and More

It's on! This year's Idiotarod, sponsored by Carts of Brooklyn, started in Brooklyn, and the craziness was on. Our report from the field:

Race start relocated from Williamsburg to Greenpoint... Clay and Franklin.
Huge police presence... Helicopters.
Race will proceed...
Cops say anyone off sidewalk is getting arrested. No second warning.
Dozens of teams... Hundreds of people in costume.
First checkpoint is on Creenpoint Ave at West Street...

Update 1:
On pulaski bridge... Pretty orderly cops are being cool

Update 2:
Outside 2nd checkpoint on 49 ave in LIC... Mayhem... No one understands Queens street grid... Everyone getting lost!

The finish line is in Long Island City at 21st Street & 45th Road. And the after-party and awards ceremony is at 21-03 44th Avenue, Long Island City.

Update 3:
At finish line at Park on 45th road... Teams arriving splattered in flour, jello, pudding, and fish oil. Lots of cheering. Police copters overhead. Firecrackers.

Photograph from this year's Idiotarod by Tien Mao. We'll have more photos from the race tomorrow. Tag yours 'gothamist' on flickr if you want to see them.