By The Associated Press AP

6:45 p.m. AKST, February 2, 2013
ANCHORAGE, Alaska—

The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race began Saturday morning with 26 mushers starting the race under sunny skies.
   
Temperatures in the 20s had mushers predicting a slow-moving race until it cools down, with more rest stops and water breaks needed for the dogs.
   
The weather helped the 30th running of the 1,000-mile Whitehorse-to-Fairbanks race attract hundreds of fans at the starting gate and down the road at the Takhini River Bridge.
   
They watched musher Brian Wilmshurst start the race after drawing the No. 1 bib.
   
Defending champion Hugh Neff of Tok and four-time winner Lance Mackey of Fairbanks are also in the field.
   
Mackey told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (http://is.gd/a61F5L) the weather was "extremely warm" - great for him, but not so good for his dogs.