The Iditarod Dog Sled Race is known as The Last Great Race on Earth.

Iit will send mushers and their dog sled teams approximately 1,150 miles from Anchorage to Nome.  The event will cross two mountain ranges, parallel the Yukon River and run over the Frozen Norton Sound.  Weather can range from 40 degrees and rain near Anchorage to 40 degrees below zero and blowing snow in the middle of the state.

The ceremonial race start begins on Saturday.  The official race re-start begins on Sunday.  Live event streams are available at the Official Site of the Iditarod for a fee.

Iditarod Facts:

• The winning team usually arrives in Nome in about nine days while the back of the pack teams show up approximately a week later.
• The first race was held in 1973.
• The 2006 winner finished in 9 days, 11 hours, 11 minutes, and 36 seconds ... winning the $69,000 first prize.
• There has been one 5-time winner, Rick Swenson.  He is also the only person to win the Iditarod in three different decads winning in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1991.
• The fastest time was set in 2002 by Martin Buser who finished the course in 8 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes, and 2 seconds.
• The slowest time ever to win the race was in 1974 when Carl Huntington won in 20 days, 15 hours, 2 minutes, and 7 seconds.
• A red lantern is awarded to the last musher to finish.  The longest time for a Red Lantern was 32 days, 15 hours, 9 minutes, and 1 second by John Schultz in 1973.  The fastest time for a Red lantern musher was David Straub with a time of 14 days, 5 hours, 38 minutes, and 12 seconds.
• The closest finish occurred in 1978 when Dick Mackey beat Rick Swenson by one second.  The winner was decided by the nose of the lead dog across the finish line.
• Teams average 16 dogs ... which means over 1,000 dogs leave Achorage for Nome!