Iditarod Trail Invitational

Iditarod Trail Invitational starts in Knik-Fairview, Alaska, on February 28, 2027, with all formats leaving at 2:00 p.m. The event follows the Iditarod Trail and offers three distances: a 1,000-mile, a 350-mile and a 150-mile. It is a winter expedition-style race rather than a conventional ultra, with participants self-supported over long stretches.

You should think of this as a wilderness expedition on foot before you think of it as a race. The 150-mile is the entry point but still demands winter travel skills, gear for extreme cold, sled or pack management and the ability to move for days with little sleep. The 350-mile and 1,000-mile options are for athletes with proven multi-day winter experience. Preparation goes well beyond a running plan: expect months of hauling a loaded sled, overnight bivy practice in sub-zero conditions and a nutrition strategy built around very high daily calories. If you are a strong 100-mile finisher looking for the next frontier, the 150-mile is the format to consider, ideally after gaining winter backcountry experience first.