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Iditarod Dog Sled Race

March 3, 2012 by · Comments Off on Iditarod Dog Sled Race 

Iditarod Dog Sled Race, The 2012 Iditarod is almost here, and the annual event will kick off on Saturday, March 3rd. The Alaskan dog-sled race from Anchorage to Nome has taken place every March since 1973, and the race is one of the most notable endurance races in the world. Each solo competitor (“musher”) will be pulled by a team of 12-16 dogs and will take between nine and 15 days to complete the journey.

The race has its roots in a dog-sled race held in 1967 and 1968 that was conceived of as a way to celebrate the centennial of Alaska becoming a U.S. territory. The race evolved into its current form in 1973 and has been Alaska’s most popular sporting event ever since.

The 2012 race will feature over 60 mushers competing to finish the race in the shortest time.The record for the fastest time was set just last year, when John Baker crossed the finish line in eight days, 19 hours, 46 minutes and 39 seconds. Baker will be competing again in this year’s race. Each year, mushers need to concern themselves with possible whiteout conditions and temperatures that can reach -100 degrees Fahrenheit when windchill is factored in.

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