Iditarod boasts pack of champions.

• Author: Pounds, Nancy
• Position: TRAVEL - Iditarod Trail Race (Sled dog race - Brief article

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This year's Iditarod Sled Dog Race boasts a roster of imposing champions and features the return from retirement of past winner Jeff King. The race begins Saturday, March 3 with the Anchorage ceremonial start at 10 a.m. Seventy mushers, including 17 rookies, will run the 20-mile stretch from Fourth Avenue and D Street to the wooded Campbell Airstrip. The restart is Sunday, March 4 in Willow.

Last year's winner, John Baker, will defend his title against consecutive four-time champion Lance Mackey and other champs Martin Buser, Mitch Seavey and Rick Swenson. Swenson is the Iditarod's only five-time winner. Four-time winners lining up again this year are Buser, King and Mackey. The 2012 Iditarod also features the return of Buser's son, Rohn, 22, who first ran the Iditarod in 2008. He ran the Junior Iditarod four times, winning in 2007.

Trail conditions are...