A dozen 12-dog teams started the 220-plus mile race to the sound of the crowd’s raucous cheers Friday evening. The race, an Iditarod qualifier, started on West Washington Street in Marquette and sees the mushers and dogs brave frigid conditions and rugged terrain as they travel to Grand Marais and back, with the race finishing Sunday. The first of the 12 teams to start the race was led by Minnesota musher Keith Aili and his team of Alaskan huskies. Aili was the youngest-ever winner of the UP200, with his most recent victory in the race coming in 2018.

The safety of the dogs and the mushers is taken very seriously during the UP200, as they are required to rest a total of 16 hours during the entirety of the race. The teams stop at multiple checkpoints and can decide how to delegate the rest periods to total the 16 hours.

A second race, the Midnight Run, kicked off around an hour after the main race. The 82-mile Midnight Run featured 17 eight-dog teams that will be making the trip to Chatham. After a mandatory five-hour rest period, the teams will continue the race, which will be finishing this morning at the Ojibwa Casino east of Harvey.

While the temperatures were bitter cold, the crowd was heated up by a rousing speech from Olympic gold medal winner Nick Baumgartner.

Rob Hemmer, left, and Benjamin Platt stand at the start of this year’s UP200 and Midnight Run. Hemmer and Platt, along with other individuals, volunteer their time so the event goes smoothly. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric

“When people ask me what a Yooper is, I can’t explain it in words,” Baumgartner told the crowd. “You have to come up here, you have to meet us to understand what we are. I couldn’t be more proud to be from somewhere. We brought a gold medal to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where it deserves to be.”

Other notable individuals were in attendance as well, including U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet.

“We have a lot to celebrate, including our beautiful U.P. summer weather,” Bergman said. “Let’s cheer on the mushers, and most importantly, enjoy being with each other. We are so blessed to be in Marquette.”

The UP200 plays a big role for the economy of Marquette and brings tourists in from places as far away as Alaska. Dave Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan, spoke to the crowd.

“We’re seeing what we have missed the past two years,” Lorenz said. “It’s time that we come together again, in every way possible.”

Former UP200 winner Keith Aili of Ray, Minnesota, prepares his sled dog team before Friday’s race. Aili had the No. 1 bib draw. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric

While the 2021 race was canceled, the excitement in the crowd was obvious to everyone in attendance, including the host of local radio program “Mark & Walt in the Morning,” Walt Lindala.

“We didn’t get to do this last year,” Lindala said. “The excitement is palpable.”

Randy Crouch can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. His email address is rcrouch@miningjournal.net.