It pits one man, called the musher, and his team of 16 huskies, against 1,161 miles of Alaskan wilderness.

The weather during the race is so cold that the dogs have to wear special boots on their feet to keep their paws from freezing.

This year, 56 teams have entered, including Max Hall, the only Englishman to take part.

His obsession with the Iditarod race began when his wife Leena got him a husky for a pet.

Third time lucky

His wife bought him his first husky

The first time he took part, he was stranded for 36 hours in a blizzard just two miles short of the finish line. The second time, he and his dogs fell through the ice into the freezing waters of the Yukon.

This year he is determined to finish. The first prize is $54,000, but he is just hoping to receive the belt buckle and badge for completing the course.

He says he does it for the challenge: "One of the vets who did this race some years ago said that when you finish this race, you feel like you could spit in a tiger's eye."

Every year makes his wife Leena more nervous. "The more I know, the more scared I get," she says.

No one has yet died in the race's 27 year history, but some have come very close.

Max carries a gun to frighten off bears. He sleeps with his dogs.

Looking forward to the finish line

On the morning of the start, the temperature was 17 degrees below freezing. The glow of the arctic sun over the mountains provided light but little heat.

Max sleeps with his dogs during the race

As the race neared, the company director from Manchester talked quietly to each of his dogs. For the next two weeks, Max and his dogs would depend on one another for survival.

He gave his two lead dogs, Margaret and Blue, a final embrace. He stepped on his sled and moved toward the start line.