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Some back-of-the-pack Iditarod mushers say they're not treated the same as the experienced, more competitive racers. We hope they're right.

First, there's no contempt in the description "back of the pack. " Anyone who dares to live out dreams earns a measure of respect. And plenty of capable dog drivers will never be Iditarod competitors, for reasons ranging from money to motivation.

But Iditarod race officials are right to give less benefit of the doubt to slow mushers with less experience, especially in conditions like the fierce cold and wind of the 2009 race. Seasoned veterans have better dogs, more trail experience and a keener eye than most of those who are just trying to get to Nome. They've earned more leeway.

The Iditarod has given its race marshal wide latitude to pull mushers from the race. It's an authority race officials need. They need to be able to judge by a musher's performance on the trail whether they can care for their dogs and themselves in whatever conditions they face, and whether they can maintain a pace that will get them to Nome in a reasonable time.

Iditarod rules used to impose a series of benchmarks, or deadlines, through the race, requiring that a team stay within a certain distance of the leaders. The idea was that the volunteers who keep the Iditarod going - pilots, checkers, trailblazers, veterinarians - couldn't stay out there forever and that the race couldn't afford to maintain its lines of communication over hundreds of miles for more than a few weeks, especially not to baby-sit straggling mushers.

Bring back the benchmarks. If a musher lags too far behind, pull the team out of the race. That way the Iditarod keeps an objective standard that must be met, and everyone knows the rule going in.

And, of course, keep the authority to pull a musher for other shortcomings as well. That won't happen often, and only for cause. As veteran race marshal Mark Nordman pointed out, it's hard to pull someone out of the race. Dreams die hard.

But better dreams than dogs or drivers. You can resurrect a dream. Not so the dead.