Iditarod Race 2012: Top Dogs, Mushers, Trail Info and Facts

As has been the case for the race's entire 40-year history, the famed Iditarod is set to take place in Anchorage, Alaska on the first Saturday in March. The event is the most famous, popular and storied dog sled race in the world, as well as an Alaskan classic.

Mushers and their dogs must brave tough Alaskan conditions for as much as 15 days in order to win the marathon, making it one of the biggest stamina events in sports. Last year's Iditarod winner won over $50,000 and a new truck, but perhaps more importantly, the winner will be an Alaskan icon.

Perhaps no sport on Earth requires more trust and teamwork between humans and animals, making the Iditarod a very special event. Here is everything you need to know about Alaska's iron-man (and dog) event.

Where: From Anchorage, Alaska to Nome, Alaska

When: Saturday, March 3 at 2 p.m. EST (Traditionally lasts between nine and 15 days)

Watch: Various features on Iditarod.com 

Mushers (Courtesy of Iditarod.com)

1              Griffin, Kelley   

2              Buser, Martin   

3              Steer, Anjanette             

4              Janssen, Scott  

5              Burmeister, Aaron          

6              Petit, Nicolas                     

7              Herbst, Trent                    

8              Cooper, Travis  

9              Linton, Bruce    

10           Bailey, Jodi         

11           Santos, Mike     

12           Mackey, Lance 

13           Neff, Hugh         

14           Seavey, Dallas  

15           Seavey, Mitch  

16           Kaiser, Peter     

17           Jonrowe, DeeDee          

18           Berington, Anna              

19           Ekran, Sigrid      

20           Smyth, Ramey

21           Suprenant, Michael       

22           Thurston, Tom 

23           Moon, Pat          

24           Berkowitz, Jake               

25           Berington, Kristy             

26           Marrs, Wade     

27           Hendrickson, Karin         

28           Kinzer, Jaimee                  

29           Gebhardt, Paul

30           Smyth, Cim        

31           Phillips, Michelle             

32           Willomitzer, Gerry          

33           Maixner, Kelly

34           Robertia, Colleen            

35           Anderson, Ken 

36           Pinkham, William            

37           Steves, Jan        

38           King, Jeff            

39           Redington Jr, Ray            

40           Baker, John       

41           Zirkle, Aliy          

42           Savidis, Justin   

43           Lanier, Jim          

44           Olson, Ryne       

45           Failor, Matt        

46           Ramstead, Karen            

47           Clarke, Lachlan 

48           DeNure, Zoya   

49           Furtwängler, Silvia          

50           Debruin, Hank  

51           Giblin, Matt       

52           Lindner, Sonny 

53           Buser, Rohn      

54           Barnum, Kirk     

55           Perano, Curt     

56           Chlupach, Bob  

57           Williams, Jr., Michael     

58           Redington, Ryan              

59           Peterson, Braxton          

60           Sass, Brent         

61           Seavey, Dan      

62           Church, Jr, Art  

63           Cadzow, Josh    

64           Swenson, Rick  

65           Sousa, Gerald   

66           Stielstra, Ed  

Trail Info (Courtesy of Iditarod.com)

This year the Iditarod will be run on the northern trail, which is customary in even years. The trail is 975 miles long, and mushers will hit 25 different checkpoints from the starting point in Anchorage to the finish line in Nome.

For the first time in the race's storied history, it will stretch less than 1,000 miles across the great state of Alaska. According to the Iditarod website, the race had traditionally lasted 1,049 miles. The number of 1,000 was significant since the race was always said to last longer than 1,000 miles, while the 49 was symbolic of Alaska being the 49th state admitted to the union.  

Facts (Courtesy of Iditarod.com)

The Iditarod was first run in 1973 and has been the premiere dog sled event ever since. Each musher has a team of 12 to 16 dogs, and at least six of them must be in harness when they cross the finish line in order to be official. The vast majority of dogs in the Iditarod are Siberian Huskies, although they have been crossbred with plenty of other breeds over the race's history.

Dick Wilmarth won the inaugural event, while defending champion John Baker set the record for fastest time last year at eight days, 19 hours and 46 minutes. Rick Swenson is the winningest musher of all time as he has won the event a record five times. Lance Mackey, who will compete in the 2012 race, is the only musher to have won the race four years in a row as he won every year from 2007 through 2010.