Iditarod 2014: Mitch Seavey looks to repeat as champion

The 2014 Iditarod is set to begin on Saturday, March 1. After the 1,000+ mile journey across Alaska is completed, the 42nd champion of The Last Great Race on Earth will be crowned.

The Iditarod is one of the most physically and mentally demanding challenges in sports. The race begins in Anchorage and ends in Nome, with checkpoints scattered all across the way. It’s pretty cold, with temperatures usually below freezing for most of the day and night.

Sixty-nine mushers will race in this year’s Iditarod, each with their pack of dogs. The mushers carry a wide range of supplies, including food for themselves and the dogs, boots (for both themselves and their pups) and a sleeping bag. Most of the drivers have different techniques; some prefer to travel during the day, others travel at night. It just comes down to knowing your dogs and how they perform best under such stressful conditions.

The Iditarod is a huge event for Alaska, with people of all ages helping out at the various town checkpoints. Here is a brief history of the race:

There are names which are automatically associated with the race - Joe Redington, Sr., co-founder of the classic and affectionately known as “Father of the Iditarod.” Rick Swenson from Two Rivers, Alaska, the only five-time winner, the only musher to have entered 20 Iditarod races and never finished out of the top ten in those races.

Dick Mackey from Nenana who beat Swenson by one second in 1978 to achieve the impossible photo finish after two weeks on the trail. Norman Vaughan, who at the age of 88 finished the race for the fourth time and led an expedition to Antarctica in the winter of 93-94. Four time winner, Susan Butcher, was the first woman to ever place in the top 10. And of course, Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod in 1985.

Last year, Mitch Seavey won the race in nine days, seven hours, 39 minutes and 56 seconds, becoming the oldest winner in race history. He crossed the finish line just 25 minutes ahead of Aliy Zirkle, meaning these races tend to have excellent finishes on the final day despite the mushers being away for more than a week.

Seavey returns to this year’s event along with his sons, Dallas and Danny. Dallas Seavey won the Iditarod in 2012 to become the youngest winner in history. He, along with his brother and dad, are considered to be some of the favorites to win this year.

Here is this year’s course:

via Iditarod.com.

The full list of mushers for this year’s race can be found here.