The winner of this year's John Beargrease sled dog race crossed the finish line Wednesday morning in Duluth, marking his third victory in seven years in this marathon that wends its way around the North Shore.

Ryan Anderson, from Ray in northern Minnesota, previously won in 2011 and 2015. He finished third last year.

The mushers took off Sunday from north of Two Harbors. Anderson took the lead for good in the final stages of the 373-mile race, leaving the last checkpoint with a 12-minute lead.

He and his 10 dogs hit the finish line at 10:07 a.m.

The victory comes before Anderson competes next month for the first time in the nation's signature sled dog race, the Iditarod in Alaska.

Anderson and his wife own AnderTier Racing Kennel.

Star Tribune, Star Tribune
The 33rd running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon got underway Sunday afternoon in Two Harbors. Here, Colleen Wallin sprinted with her team down the trail at the start of the race.

Established in 1980, the John Beargrease is the longest sled dog race in the Lower 48 states. It was named for John Beargrease, an Ojibwe man from Beaver Bay who delivered mail along the North Shore from 1879 to 1899 by dog sled.

Paul Walsh