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Registration for the 31st running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon begins Sunday. It marks a turnaround for the race, which was nearly canceled last year.

 
A new group of volunteers stepped in last October. They increased the prize money to $35,000. 

Revamped Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon chases former glory

Photos: The 2014 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon


They also added new features, including installing GPS trackers on sleds so fans could follow mushers online, said Jason Rice, president of the Board of Directors of John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, Inc. 


"We just shouted from the hilltops that this is about to go away, and that really brought out all of the people who felt like we did, that this is too much of a tradition, it tells to rich of a story, to let it pass," he said.


The race commemorates an Ojibwe man who delivered mail along the North Shore via dogsled in the late 1800s. 


Rice expects a full field of 80 racers this year. The marathon covers nearly 400 miles, from Duluth, to Gunflint Lake, near the Canadian border, and back again. It starts January 25. 

Five things to know about the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon

 Organizers increased the prize money again this year -- to $45,000. 

 The mid-distance race runs about 120 miles, from Duluth to Tofte and back. 

 It takes 600 to 700 volunteers to make the race happen. 

 It's the longest sled dog race in the lower 48 states, and serves as a qualifier for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

 Nathan Schroeder, 37, of Chisholm, has won the last two marathons. Last year he placed 17th in his first Iditarod, winning Rookie of the Year honors.

Five things to know about Beargrease as registration begins

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