It's bonus edition of the News Man Weekly podcast -- an audio primer to get you ready to follow Mansfield native Matthew Failor in the 2025 Iditarod Sled Dog Race across Alaska.Richland Source Deputy Managing Editor Carl Hunnell is joined by Failor on a connection from his home in Willow Alaska, as the Mansfield St. Peter's High School graduate prepares to launch his 14th Iditarod campaign, an effort that will carry him nearly 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome.

The ceremonial race start is March 1 in downtown Anchorage and the official restart is March 3 in Fairbanks.

Hunnell and Failor touch on a variety of topics, including how a warmer winter with not much snow has hampered race preparations; what the planning requires for his Alaskan Husky Adventures to have to have two teams in this year's race; and what a day on the trail with 16 dogs is really like.

Failor also talks about what a St. Peter's School education meant to his life. The school is sponsoring the Richland Source coverage of Failor's efforts this year, which will include start to finish reporting once the race begins.

Follow all of Richland Source's Iditarod coverage here.

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