WILLOW, Alaska — The competitive portion of the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started today with Cim Smyth of Big Lake leaving the restart first in Willow.

Jessie Royer of Fairbanks and Jim Lanier of Chugiak were the second and third mushers out of the chute. Defending champion Lance Mackey of Fairbanks was fifth.

Mackey — fresh off a close win in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, considered by many to be an even tougher long-distance sled dog race — said he felt more prepared than ever for the 2008 Iditarod.

Last year, Mackey became the first musher to sweep the Quest and the Iditarod.

Mackey said last year he was a little nervous going into the Iditarod, but is not feeling any pressure in 2008.

"People might expect me to do well here. As far at that goes, there is nobody putting pressure on me except for me," he said.

Even so, he will be trying for another Iditarod win. Mackey said he considers mushing his job and if he doesn't do it well, he will be forced to get a "real job" to support his wife and family.

Mackey said he'd rather keep mushing.

"I am pressuring myself basically to do well. If I don't win this race again, I won't be disappointed," he said. "I can't complain at all, not even a little bit."

Mushers are competing for a piece of an $875,000 purse, to be paid out among the top 30 finishers to reach Nome. There are 96 teams entered this year, a record field that includes six past champions.