via iditablog.com

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And so are we! The race doesn't start until tomorrow, but all the racers have left downtown Anchorage already. To follow the 2010 Iditarod live via official coverage, you have to subscribe and become an Iditarod Insider. For these instances, we have to imagine our own action or turn to enthusiast press. This year's dog sled race features five former champions, including three time winner Lance Mackey, as well as two Scots, and a Jamaican. If that's not a great setup for a bar joke or funny anecdote, I don't know what is.

I don't know much about the Iditarod, if anything. We acknowledged its existence two years ago, so this will be a learning experience for us all.

Last time we covered this, we met iditablog, who will again be providing the best coverage in all the best formats. Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, podcasts on iTunes. In fact, I think SBNation should just pick them up.

The race takes at least 8 days to complete, the fastest time being 8 days and 22 hours. Advancements in dog bootie technology have helped the teams to faster times over the years.

This is the biggest day of the year for Alaska. They party all day before the race gets under way tomorrow. I don't think I've ever been in 25°F weather, much less partied in it. 

I listened to iditablog's podcast for today. Loren Linden was there at the start and Skype'd in to Josh Rogers to give updates. She said dogs were howling all night. That sounds terrifying.

The weather out on the trail is always a big determining factor in who wins. How you've trained your dogs and what for will matter as well. For instance, paw-to-paw combat training will do you no good in the rain or snow.

If you misspell Iditarod enough times, you end up with Iditard, which sounds like someone who is a fanatic about the Iditarod.

I will try to provide uninformed observations and too late updates as the sled race goes on.