In a remarkable display of endurance and skill, Erin Aili from Ray, Minnesota, clinched her second title at the 40th John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. The 2025 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon concluded at the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino, where Aili and her team of eight dogs crossed the finish line just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
A Challenging Race
The 2025 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon presented unique challenges for the teams. The course was shortened to 267 miles due to the lack of snow between Duluth and Two Harbors. Temperatures during the race also exceeded 32ºF, creating slushy and icy conditions on the trail. Furthermore, sled dogs risk overheating in warmer temperatures, an issue seen throughout the 2-day event. Before the race even began, four teams withdrew from the race. During the race, an additional four teams scratched showing the challenges teams faced.
Despite these obstacles, Aili maintained an impressive pace, finishing approximately 11 minutes ahead of the second-place musher, Erin Altemus from Grand Marais. This was in stark contrast to the 2023 finish where the first- and second-place finishers crossed the finish line with times only 3 seconds apart.
A Family Legacy
If the name Aili sounds familiar, it should. Fans of John Beargrease will remember that Erin’s husband, Keith Aili, is also a seasoned musher with two Beargrease titles to his name. Those include the most recent race in 2023, keeping in mind that the 2024 race was canceled due to lack of snow. Keith reportedly has retired from competitive dog mushing and has handed the reins, and several dogs from his champion team in 2023, to Erin.
Going back to Erin, if the name Erin Aili doesn’t sound familiar to you, maybe the name Erin Letzring does. That is the name Erin raced under when she won the 2021 marathon. In 2022 she scratched in what was arguably the most challenging John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon in recent history with 14 of the 24 teams competing leaving the race before the finish. She did not race in 2023 so in many ways this win in the John Beargrease 2025 marathon is her great comeback. And a well-deserved one at that.
Race Delays and Conflicts
The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, named in honor of the legendary Anishinaabe mail carrier John Beargrease, is the longest sled dog race in the contiguous United States. It typically serves as a qualifier for Alaska’s Iditarod, attracting mushers from across North America. However, due to (again) a lack of snow during the race’s initial start date in January, the race was postponed to March. This created conflicts with the Iditarod, North America’s longest, premiere sled dog race held in Alaska. The Iditarod held its ceremonial start on March 1 and the official start on March 3. This meant that the John Beargrease 2025 marathon would not be able to be used to qualify for the 2025 Iditarod.
Despite that, most of the names John Beargrease fans have grown to know and love were still present on the Northern Minnesota course for the 2025 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Including this year’s victor, Erin Aili.
Beargrease Marathon is in essence a celebration of endurance, tradition, and the unbreakable bond between mushers and their team of dogs. Sometimes it’s not all about the length or designated importance of the race, but the community you get to race alongside.
As the mushing community reflects on this year’s race, Aili’s victory in the 2025 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon stands as an inspiration to both seasoned and aspiring mushers, reminding all of the profound connection and mutual trust that define the world of dog sledding.