Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race 2011 [PHOTOS]

The Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race was first run in 1973 as mushers and their teams of sled dogs raced over a thousand miles through the Alaska countryside. Lance Mackey enters the 2011 race having won the last four Iditarod competitions.

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Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

An Iditarod musher's team on the way into the McGrath checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Click the image for more photos of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

MCT

Anchorage Daily News

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Iditarod musher Ed Stielstra's sled dog Swanny hangs out his tongue at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday afternoon March 9, 2011. This is Swanny's first race ever and Stielstra, from McMillan ,Mich., says he has been in swing the whole race and is doing great. (AP Photo/BOB HALLINEN / Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Iditarod musher DeeDee Jonrowe from Willow, AK feeds her sled dogs at the Takotna checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, afternoon March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Hallinen - Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Iditarod musher Hans Gatt from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory washes out his dog food trays next to the hot water barrel at the Takotna checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, afternoon March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Hallinen - Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Willow, AK Iditarod musher Karin Hendrickson's swing dog Aberdeen and leader Chase keep an eye on things at the Takotna checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, afternoon March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Hallinen - Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Iditarod musher Kristy Berington from Kasilof, AK walks one of her sled dogs at the Takotna checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, afternoon March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Hallinen - Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Iditarod musher Karin Hendrickson from Willow, AK gives a pill to one of her sled dogs at the Takotna checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, afternoon March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Hallinen - Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Galaxy looks back at Iditarod musher DeeDee Jonrowe, from Willow, Ark., as she feeds her sled dogs at the Takotna, Alaska checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday afternoon March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/BOB HALLINEN / Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Iditarod musher Karin Hendrickson, from Willow, Ark., feeds her sled dogs at the Takotna, Alaska, checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday afternoon March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/BOB HALLINEN / Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Iditarod musher Sebastian Schnuelle from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory hugs one of Hugh Neff's dogs at the Takotna checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, afternoon March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Hallinen - Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Iditarod musher Martin Buser from Big Lake, AK works with his sled dogs at the Takotna checkpoint during the 2011 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Wednesday, afternoon March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Hallinen - Anchorage Daily News)
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race