By Marina M.

The Iditarod is a dog sled race that’s been going on for many years. The Iditarod race started back in But back in 1925, there were sick people in Alaska and the only way to get medications was by dog sled. They decided to make a race out of it and called it the Iditarod. And that’s how the whole thing started.

Mitch Seavey Bib Number: years old Born in: Minnesota Hometown: Sterling, Alaska

In Alaska the most common species of race dogs are huskies along with Alaskan dogs. They were born to run. My musher has 16 dogs but in the race of 2015 six of them were injured. I know 1 of his dogs name Ditka. The dogs wear booties on their paws to keep warm and protected. They also wear harnesses to keep connected to the sled.

Every year the Iditarod participants start in Anchorage, Alaska and end in Nome. But not this year! Teams went to Anchorage like the tradition, took a picture, then got into there trucks and drove to Fairbanks, where they started mushing. There was not enough snow on the regular route. The new route also includes 17 checkpoints and a 1049 mile range.

There are many awards given to Iditarod musher's. There is one called the Red Lantern Award. An award given to the last musher to Nome. This years winner was Marcelle Fressineau. Another award is the City of Nome Lolly Medley Golden Harness Award Winner going to the best lead dog, went to Beatle Dallas Seavey’s lead dog. One more award is the Anchorage Chrysler Dodge Official Truck award, given to 2015’s first place winner, Dallas Seavey.

Iditarod.com