Smaller Beargrease Race Ready to hit Trails

This year’s John Beargrease Sled Dog marathon will be a lot smaller than previous years. 

Thirty mushers are expected to hit the trails Sunday, bound for a finish line in Duluth in what’s billed as the longest sled dog race in the Lower 48 states. 

That’s less than half the number from about a decade ago.  

Racers who no longer run dogs say they’ve chosen to get out because of the high expense and personal cost of training and maintaining a competitive team dogs, especially when the prize money is fairly small. 

Two time winner John Stetson told Minnesota Public Radio that it takes so much time and money that its “not sustainable.”  He would says he get right back in the race if he ever hits the lottery.