Lack Of Snow Won't Change Beargrease Marathon's Start Date

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The 2015 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon will start as scheduled, even though there's not that much snow in northern Minnesota.

The lack of snow will shorten the race anywhere from 30 to 100 miles. Also, the racers will not be able to start the marathon at Duluth East High School like they normally do.

Organizers are looking to either start at Two Harbors or Finland.

Mushers are just glad that the race will start on the scheduled date.

"If the race had moved to a different date, it would have really affected a lot of mushers," racer Billie Diver said. "I think we would've lost about half the mushers that we do have signed up."

Some 47 teams are signed up for the mid-distance and full-distance races. That's about twice as many as last year.

This year's winner gets $45,000. That's one of the largest purses for sled dog racing.