Purple, they are each running teams in the 1/2 this year. Don (August's husband) won the 1/2 last year FWIW

The start is cool, but I think watching the mushers finish at Billy's is even better. It's a little more low-key. Keep tabs on the mushers' progress on the race Web site, and then head to Billy's on Wednesday about the time the first ones are due in.

It's a neat scene - the ice-coated mushers, still-excited dogs, a few dozen hearty, cheering fans, media interviews, big bonfire going....

This is one of my favorite things to do in Duluth. The bays, barks and howls of hundreds of dogs gives you goose bumps of excitement.

While watching the teams at the start line or finish (and I do prefer the finish over the start) is nice, seeing some of the action out on the trail is by far the best way to go.  Take an afternoon off and head up to Sawbill or out to a remote road crossing near Finland...