396 to 528

\r\nThat’s a lot of dogs."} 5a:{"type":"p","text":"Each musher must have at least a dozen dogs to start the race, but throughout the course, they can have up to 16, meaning there could be up to 528 canines on the trail."} 5b:{"type":"p","text":"It won’t be that crowded in Anchorage, however. Mushers are limited to eight dogs each for the ceremonial start, or a total of 264 tail-waggers.\r\n

1,128

\r\nThe Iditarod is typically called a 1,000-mile race as mushers and their dogs battle the most challenging elements an Alaska winter can throw at them."} 5c:{"type":"p","text":"However, that mileage has always been approximate."} 5d:{"type":"p","text":"Organizers alternate between different routes most years to allow more villages in rural Alaska to serve as checkpoints. In odd-numbered years, the race goes 998 miles along the southern route. In even-numbered years, the race’s mileage drops to 975 miles on the northern route."} 5e:{"type":"p","text":"This year’s event will set a record for the longest Iditarod: 1,128 miles. Organizers had to reroute competitors around a stretch of trail without snow."} 5f:{"type":"p","text":"A lack of snow this winter in the state’s largest city also has curtailed the ceremonial start. Usually the teams course through 11 miles of Anchorage streets. This year, it’s less than 2 miles.\r\n

100,000

\r\nThe Iditarod’s four-legged athletes will go through a total of about 100,000 booties during the race. They help protect the dogs’ paws from snow, ice, and frigid temperatures.\r\n

180,000

\r\nMushers pack supplies they will need during the race but can’t carry. The supplies, including about 180,000 pounds of dog food, are delivered to checkpoints ahead of the race."} 4c:["$4d","$4e","$4f","$50","$51","$52","$53","$54","$55","$56","$57","$58","$59","$5a","$5b","$5c","$5d","$5e","$5f"] 62:{} 61:{"name":"US","slug":"us","termId":13,"termIcon":"https://img.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2018/09/07/id2654880-USNews.png","taxonomy":"categ

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