Established in 1980, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon runs nearly 300 miles along the shoreline of Lake Superior starting in Duluth, Minnesota. Competitors face the extremes of northern Minnesota weather and the deceivingly rugged terrain of the trail. The “Beargrease” is a qualifier for the Iditarod.

The Beargrease series also hosts a Mid-Distance race, The Beargrease 120, which runs through the Sawtooth mountains of the North Shore of Minnesota and a recreational race, The Beargrease 40, which begins and ends on race day.

The Beargrease is part of the Qrill Pet Arctic World Series, which includes four races from around the world. All races will be available for live streaming online at Iditarod.com. Races include Beargrease in Minnesota on Jan. 26, Femundløpet in Norway Jan. 31, Volga Quest in Russia on Feb. 8, and Iditarod in Alaska on March 7.