Minn. Beargrease sled dog race back on for 2014

Natalie Harwood
Mid-distance musher Natalie Harwood, of Iron River, Wis., spots some fans in the crowd, as she leaves the starting line of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon last winter.
Paul M. Walsh for MPR

The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is back on in northern Minnesota next year.

Last week race organizers announced they were canceling the event scheduled for January 2014, to re-evaluate interest in the marathon and raise more money.

But Beargrease board Vice President Geoff Vukelich tells WDIO-TV the race is back on after a leadership change.

Vukelich stepped down at Monday night's board meeting. Tone Coughlin, with the NorthShore Inline Marathon, will serve as the interim president.

Vukelich, who had been on the board for a decade, says he doesn't care who runs the race. He says the important thing is that it's going to happen.

The nearly 400-mile sled dog marathon is run along the north shore of Lake Superior.

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