Jarding took 20 days, 14 hours, 45 minutes to reach Nome after starting on Knik Lake about three weeks ago. The race began Feb. 28, and he finished 4:45 a.m. Monday.
For perspective, consider that Jarding walked to Nome faster than it took 1974 Iditarod champion Carl Huntington behind a championship sled-dog team. Even more startling, perhaps, is this -- the Iditarod's initial red lantern winner was on the trail nearly two weeks longer than Jarding, 32 days, 5 hours.
As it was, Jarding broke the race record for getting to Nome on foot by more than a day and a half.
He wasn't the only record-setter.
Cyclist Tracey Petervary of Wyoming arrived in Nome faster than any woman in the history of the race, 18 days 6 hours to Nome.
And Nome cyclist Phil Hofstetter, lured by the smell of home cooking, won the 1,000-mile ultra in 17 days, 9 hours, 30 minutes.
"It was incredible, magical and an awesome welcome into Nome," Hofstetter wrote on his blog. "There are so many thoughts and events that happened, it will be hard to sort out and decompress but to ride the last mile with Nora (Nagaruk) into the chute to the arch was the final touch."
Racing for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Hofstetter raised more than $1,500 during the race -- $21,500 total.
"As in past years it is in lieu of my friend, a leader, a role model and a physician, Nora Nagaruk, who is kicking leukemia where the sun don't shine," Hofstetter wrote.
Mike Curiak of Colorado owns the overall course record to Nome of 15 days, 1 hour, 15 minutes, set 10 years ago.
Jarding called co-race director Bill Merchant about 11 p.m. Friday from White Mountain.
"He was in good spirits and chatty," Merchant reported on the race's blog. "He had just finished a big meal of caribou.
"I guess Tom's wife Debbie described best how Tom has sounded on the phone this year, 'He sounds like a teenager.' He goes on and on how much fun he's having and how good he feels with the exception of the normal wear and tear inflicted by the gazillion steps he's taken so far."
Pennsylvania walker Tim Hewitt, aiming to complete his sixth 1,000-mile Knik-to-Nome race, had left White Mountain and was headed for Nome on Monday.
"I am sure the feet of most mortals would have fallen off long ago if they asked them to walk to Nome five times," Merchant wrote. "What Tim has accomplished on the Iditarod Trail goes way beyond my ability to describe and beyond the comprehension of anyone who hasn't been there."
Reach reporter Mike Campbell at mcampbell@adn.com or 257-4329.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.