The Greatest Race on Earth

An epic race spanning 1,150 miles of the world’s toughest terrain. Just you and your dogs crossing rugged mountains, isolated prairies, frozen rivers, and dense, snowy forests.

The Iditarod

Every year, around 50 to 70 teams, each one averaging 16 dogs and a musher (the human in charge of the sled), compete in the journey from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. It takes days to finish.

The fastest time was recorded in 2021, when Dallas Seavey crossed the finish line in 7 days, 14 hours, 8 minutes, and 57 seconds. However, the race was 140 miles shorter that year to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

The Iditarod is unlike many other races in that it gives a special prize to the last person to finish. The Red Lantern for persistence is given to the team that spends the longest time on the track. The record for the slowest time ever is 32 days, 15 hours, and 9 minutes. Can you imagine taking over a month to cross a finish line?

Origins

The Iditarod has a history that is essential to the culture of the US’s northernmost state. In the early 1900s, when thousands rushed to Alaska in search of gold, they traveled and received supplies along the Iditarod Trail, which was only accessible by dog sled given its freezing and snowy conditions. Even before the gold rush, mushing was a central part of life in the North. Still today, as modern transportation becomes more common, it remains the fallback.

One Heroic Dog

The most famous story of dog sled heroism illustrates its importance. Immortalized by the movie Balto, mushers and their dogs rescued the town of Nome in 1925 when it was threatened by an outbreak of disease. The crucial medicine was delivered only because of the mushers’ determination and their dogs’ faithful service.

Recognizing this heroic feat, Wasilla resident Dorothy G. Page wanted to find a way to preserve mushing’s place in history. She was the driving force behind the modern Iditarod race, named after the famous trail, which was first run in its entirety in 1973.

Canine Athletes

Of course, the essential part of the race is the dogs. Working in tandem with each other and their human captain, these animals can achieve incredible feats. They can run for hours at speeds of 20 miles per hour and are incredibly strong. To give you an example of their power, one dog dragged over half a ton in the canine version of a tractor pull.

The setup of the team is very important. Mushers carefully select dogs for the following roles:

• lead dog — in charge of responding to the musher’s commands, setting the pace, and choosing a path
• point dogs — the second in command
• swing dogs — several of these to help pull
• wheel dogs — closest to the sled, often the sturdiest and strongest

Mushers also consider racing breeds such as:

• Alaskan huskies — the most popular breed, weighing 40 to 60 pounds, lean yet strong
• Alaskan malamute —  weighing 75 to 85 pounds, usually chosen as lead dogs, wheel dogs, or for pulling especially heavy freight
• Samoyeds
• Greenland dogs

Pit Stops

The mushers pay special attention to the needs of their dogs, and at the 27 checkpoints located along the trail, they are given the opportunity to rest their dogs or get veterinary attention. The teams that race in the Iditarod are great examples of humans and animals working together to achieve amazing things.

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