The Iditorod started many years ago as an emergency serum run to save peoples lives. I look forward every year watching the race unfold on the internet. What I understand there are check points where veterinaries check each dog over. There are rest periods for the dogs, where they have to stop. The mushers take care of their dogs needs before all else. The dogs wear boots on their feet to protect them while racing. They sleep in straw & are feed a high protein warm meals. If I could be a husky dog I would bark my head off & run like mad. But I am a darn old human.