We want to be able to spurt up to 16 miles an hour 10 hours into a run for a short time. I can't list them all. Winning is contingent upon accomplishing all the tasks. Physical and mental conditioning, equipment testing and tuning, dietary acclimation and preparation. The thing that strikes me most often is attitude of the driver.
Many mushers view training as boring.
I focus intensely every mile of the way looking for weaknesses. Races are typically lost by racers who take weak dogs and have to load them or stop to nurse them. The last month before a marathon race should consist of a week long trip with gangline camping so the driver and dogs can get away from phones and roads to make the final adjustments. It is very crucial to get away to a remote location the week before a race for me. I hide out with the dogs until the drivers meeting.