The Toughest Race on Earth

At least that's how the Discovery Channel is describing the annual 1151-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Beginning on October 14th, the Discovery Channel will follow 8 of the 96 teams that competed in the 2008 Iditarod Race. This is a six-part reality type show that will air on Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. EST. The Iditarod series was produced by the same people who produced the highly successful "Deadliest Catch" series on the same channel.

Teams that compete in the Iditarod attempt to traverse more than a thousand miles of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet, including icy tundra, jagged mountain ranges, dense alpine forests and windswept coastlines. With 12 to 16 finely tuned dogs working as the engine, mushers play a disciplined game of strategy in order to be the first to the finish line in Nome, Alaska.

The series follows both rookies and race legends, including four-time Iditarod Champions Jeff King and Martin Buser.

The Iditarod Trail is steeped in history. In 1925, part of the trail became a life-saving highway. Mushers and their dog teams were called upon to bring serum to epidemic-stricken Nome and save the town from Diphtheria that had overtaken it. The Iditarod Race is a commemoration of those brave and legendary mushers and their faithful dogs.

Here's a trailer for the show:




Jeff
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