Iditarod hopeful and former reality TV star seeks repeat win.

Holmes logged about 4,500 miles training in deep snow and extreme cold as he seeks to defend his Iditarod title; the race winner is expected to reach the finish around March 17.

Holmes is racing the Iditarod again after an extensive winter of training in deep snow and bitter cold. He has said he logged roughly 4,500 miles with his dogs this season. Holmes built a life in the North after leaving Alabama, living off the land in Alaska and appearing on the television series Life Below Zero for multiple seasons. He won last year’s Iditarod and has said defending the title is the most important race of his career. Known details: - The race route includes two mountain ranges, the frozen Yukon River and the ice of the Bering Sea, and the winner is expected to reach the finish line around March 17. - Holmes grew up in Odenville, Alabama, and has described an early affinity for stray and hard-luck dogs. - He left home at 18, travelled north, lived in Montana and Dawson City in Canada before settling in Alaska, where he used dogs to help with hauling and subsistence living. - Holmes joined the cast of Life Below Zero and appeared in 132 episodes over eight seasons, which he said helped pay for dog food and equipment. - He entered his first Iditarod in 2018, finished seventh and earned rookie of the year honors; he has placed in the top 10 all but two years since then and won last year. - Prize money and sponsorship have declined from earlier eras; this year a new backer has added funds and a new amateur category was introduced, which Holmes has said he does not favor. Summary: Holmes says the pressure to repeat as champion is intense and he calls this race the most important of his career, noting that only two mushers have previously won a second title the year after their first. The immediate next milestone is the trail run toward the finish, with the projected winner expected around March 17.