It’s hardly surprising that Iditarod racer Newton Marshall was badly affected by the cold when he first began mushing – as the rookie hails from Jamaica.

However, after the initial shock, Marshall told KTUU.com he is now well-versed in what it takes to tackle the Last Great Race.

After completing the Yukon Quest in 2009, Marshall is gearing up for the start of the Iditarod this Saturday (March 6th 2010) in Alaska.

And when his sled dog team set off from the starting line in Anchorage, Marshall said it will be the realisation of a long-standing dream.

Discussing how he will cope with the extreme temperatures and biting winds, the rookie told the news provider he plans to knuckle down.

"I don’t love extreme cold or 50 below and wind blowing in my face, but I’m willing to go out there and do it because I like running with the dogs out there in the wilderness," he remarked.

Marshall has spent the last couple of years picking up tips from some of the best in the mushing business, having trained with three-time Iditarod winner Lance Mackey and this year’s Yukon Quest champion Hans Gatt.

The trio will be going up against the likes of Jeff King and Ramey Smyth in the hunt for the title this weekend.