Arrowhead Winter Ultra

Eric Johnson, First on foot

2009-02-28T20:46:00.003-06:00

Without question the last 65 brutal miles is what defines the Arrowhead 135. On Monday, February 2 in the frozen reaches of northern Minnesota, 26 people started and placed their bets they'd finish 135 miles away. Sixty hours later at race end there were 18 DNF's. The only similarities between the Arrowhead and a summer 100 is that you wear running shoes, which is where all resemblence stops. Add another 35 miles, all of which are done in a deep freezer and your're in for it.

As I mustered my way through the second night in temperatures that dropped to -35, I wished for an extra check point. Problem is, there are only two, total, one at approximately mile 36 and the second at 72. That provides a lot of real estate between the runner and the finish to be completely on their own, and is a painful test of self-reliance, which is exactly why I love winter or artic ultras so much. Perhaps in no other aspect of the extremes of organized ultras is self-reliance so absloutely critical. That along with sleep depreviation, a 25 pound sled and no pacers or extra drops, not to mention the mind blowing mercury drops of -35, and you've just met the Arrowhead. Maybe the last 65 miles of Pierre and Cheryl's race should be called "Pierre's Payback".

You also better pray it's not windy at -35, and that you don't need to stop and add any moleskin to your already sorry looking feet. Because if you get it to stick without subjecting your toes to frostbite, I doubt your fingers will be so lucky, I promise. There are plenty of reasons why the sub-culture of active winter or artic ultrarunners is so small, which is also why the active sub-culture of ultrarunners who participate in extreme heat events like the Badwater 135 is so sparsely populated: the margin of error is extremely tight, and if the ultrarunner has any physical or mentally weaknesses, they will be forcefully and painfully exploited, and they will suffer. A Navy Seal once said "It's mind over matter, and if you don't mind it doesn't matter."

Meet you at the starting line next year, and I hope that you don't mind.

Eric

Challenge for few in ice

2009-02-28T20:12:00.003-06:00

Film taken by Brazilian TV crew during the 2009 Arrowhead.

Link to Brazilian TV report on Globo Videos

Translation:

João Prestes and Márcio Villar face the adverse conditions of Minnesota, in the United States. Brazilians speak on the difficulties of the test, disputed in a very cold place.

Jeremy's tale of the trail

2009-02-19T22:20:00.003-06:00

Thanks again to Pierre and Cheryl for putting on the best race I have ever done. It was one of those once in a lifetime feelings completing this bugger. But I hope to be back next year for another totally unique experience. By bike? We'll see...I still have something to prove by ski, though. A little less time and a bit more glide (and grace). Well, mother nature will always decide that. It's exactly one of the best things about the race. One is always at the mercy of the weather at the end of the day (with a little luck and experience thrown in there, too).

Here is yet another tale of the trail. http://jkcadence.blogspot.com

Jeremy

Link to Jeremy's Blog

Everything falls apart at 4am.

2009-02-19T22:07:00.002-06:00

Everything falls apart at 4am. Parties wind down, cramming for exams becomes intolerable, sleepless nights become restless mornings. In this year's Arrowhead 4am is when the cold set in, the shelter was full, and wax wouldn't stick to my skis...

Matt Maxwell

Link to Matt's report here.

Frostbite Falls alumnus

2009-02-19T17:52:00.002-06:00

Hello ,

2009 was my 3rd Arrowhead Ultra. I got initiated the hard way, during the 2007 Arrowhead Ultra, where brutal weather, poor trail conditions, and mechanical issues pushed me (as I pushed my bike for 80 miles) almost to my limits. The biggest change for 2009 was the addition of a Pugsley to my gear list (Thanks to my wife Jackie) and 2 prior finishes to boost my confidence.

During the pre-race meeting, Mike Curiak shared slides from the race in Alaska, I think I could have stayed all day and listened to stories. My Brother-in-law John made the 500+ mile drive from Wisconsin to be the finish line official and offer support. My mother in law also made the trip North to offer support and bring me her special "Arrowhead cookies". I had my gear laid out for weeks but almost forgot to pack a drop bag (which would have been OK, I could have fed a small army with the extra food I had at the finish).

I started the race at 07:14 am and finished 34 hours, 46 minutes later. The race start weather was close to perfect, the trail conditions were not. We had 3-4" fresh snow and the trail was soft, this made riding harder, especially for the athletes breaking trail in front. The race leaders have my respect and awe, the pace they set is amazing. It is nice to see all of the racers in the first couple of hours, and all the gear variations they employ.

Key memories for me from the 2009 Arrowhead Ultra are:
- The race leaders drafting early in the race
- Skiers not getting much glide
- A brat and juice at Gateway
- The leaders breaking trail, following their tire tracks when I was able
- Good soup and grilled cheese at Melgeorges, wonderful volunteers
- Wishing for more logging so the trail would be faster
- Leaving Melgeorges at 5:30 am, seeing wolf tracks in Josh and Chuck's tire tracks that were only 2 hours ahead of me.
- How long it took to get to the tee-pee and how beautiful it was.
- How flat the last 22 miles are and how far it is from Bayview to Fortune Bay
- How glad I was not to be saddle sore.
- Cold feet
- flying down hills thinking "this could be the most spectacular crash in Arrowhead history"
- Frozen thermoses
- 29 below the last night, and how tough the racers were that were still going.

In closing, the Arrowhead Ultra is a world class race with great organizers, volunteers, and racers. The memories from each race keep me looking forward to the next one. My only regret is that I don't get to know all of the people better who are involved in this great event.

See you next year,

2009 Racer #11,

Ken Krueger

UNFAIR

2009-02-18T22:39:00.003-06:00

Dave Pramann reports:

This race is unfair.....TeePee of Despair... must change everything, so there!!!!

Navy Guys

2009-02-18T21:58:00.006-06:00

Luke--by the Numbers:
$ 15,023.10 raised for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation
135 Miles
53 hours 27 minutes
2 hours of sleep
2 sleds
4 or 5 layers
3 checkpoints and 1 tepee
Countless powerbars and gu’s
4 days of school missed
40 hours of driving
1 race, 1 goal

Blaine-Highs and Lows:
......Of course there were highs and lows during the race. Sometimes we would be able to pull each other out of it, and sometimes we would both be low, and we would remind ourselves to listen to our head and our heart, not our body. The times when we were both high, we would sing songs. I think I even did a couple of cartwheels at some point during the race.

...I had started to fall asleep while moving and running off the trail, so I followed the blinking light on the back of Luke’s sled, sometimes waking up and realizing I had been sleeping for ten minutes and had kept on moving. At those temperatures, it is very important that you don’t sweat too much so you don’t get hypothermia, and I had started to sweat. I took the mask and bandana off my face which had been warming the air I was breathing in so my lungs wouldn’t freeze. After this point, I only remember tiny segments until I opened my eyes and was in the hospital....

Luke's full report

Blaine's full report

3rd place/bike finisher Dennis Grelk

2009-02-18T20:44:00.003-06:00

The Arrowhead 135 was everything I was hoping it would be and more. Truly a stepping stone for larger more self sustained multi-day events, whether it be racing or touring. Much was learned, yet there is much to learn.

I can't put my finger on what it is that makes this sort of event so appealing to me, all I can say is that this was the most enduring event I've ever done, and yet the most lucrative. The gear and knowledge required to finish this event is the most expensive and rewarding that I've ever strived for. Who knew racing at 8mph could be so addictive?

Many thanks to Pierre and Cheryl Ostor for putting together such a great event, and to all the volunteers and fellow racers for helping make the event what it is.

Full Report Here

Dennis Grelk

Canadian, Olympian or just another candidate for therapy?

2009-02-17T23:43:00.002-06:00

It was 4 am and I was struggling to push my 70 pound Surley Pugsley bike up one of the interminable hills and I found myself thinking about where this event fit in among the races I have done. I’ve found that there are two basic levels they fall into. This didn’t reach the “ Please let me keep going for just 5 more minutes level. It was more where I found myself asking why a supposedly sane and well adjusted 60 year old would want to do this to himself. For those of you who’ve read of some other race I’ve been in, you’ll recognize a common theme but it once again seems totally appropriate to this event....

Lindsay Gauld

For more,

Click Here

Canadian Bill Shand

2009-02-17T22:58:00.002-06:00

The temperature is -28C. It’s 2:00am. I am crawling inside my sleeping bag trying close up the zippers before my hands go completely numb. This was not part of my race strategy.....

.....As I reflect back on the race, I have to question some of the decisions that I made. Those decisions did get me to the finish line without injury in my fastest time yet but I took some unnecessary risks and things could have gone very differently. I was really happy to make it to the finish but I have some work to do before next year.

This is my third time finishing the Arrowhead. It sure isn’t getting any easier.

Bill's full report:

Click here

Arrowhead 2009: Disappointment

2009-02-17T22:18:00.005-06:00

Right now, one word sums it all up for me: Disappointment....

Links to Kid Riemer's report:

http://www.salsacycles.com/amigos/2009/02/arrowhead-ultra-2009-report.html

Link to Kid Riemer's report at Salsa blog

....Props and a shout out to all the fine folks that gave it their best this year. It was great seeing you and I look forward to our paths crossing again.

-Kid

Click Here for more

Sam McGee was right

2009-02-16T19:13:00.006-06:00

Neuburger Family aka the "Tipi People" pulling gear up Wakemup hill to set up tipi at the shelter.

Sam McGee is the title character in the poem "The cremation of Sam McGee". It seems like a fitting poem for the race. It is about a guy from Tennessee that goes dog sledding in Alaska I think, he freezes solid and then his friend cremates him only to find him sitting in the fire alive and warm for the first time since leaving home. Very fitting I think. I found myself thinking this at times in the tipi..."Why he left his home in the South to roam 'Round the Pole, God only knows."

Kurt,Carrie & Caytlin Neuburger and Chad & Kelly Brancamp
Wakemup Tipi Checkpoint#3 Volunteers

Link to Tipi Report

Link to Photo Album

Halfway point junkie

2009-02-16T19:04:00.006-06:00

Lara checking in at the staggered start

The trail was a magical place for me. I am so very grateful that I put myself out there. Walking is so very slow but well worth all the time I had to enjoy my surroundings as I traveled. That is one thing you have when you walk.... time alone. Walking and time became my friends for I felt no exhaustion and I was able to take in the beauty of the trail.
Yes, me feet hurt but I kept my spirits up and enjoyed the stroll through the woods. And along the way I found something special in my journey.

Please let the wonderful Volunteers know that I appreciate everything they did for me. They are a very special group of people.
Thank you for giving me this experience.
Lara Sullivan

Link to full report

Jack Prentice

2009-02-16T18:52:00.003-06:00

Hello,

I will see if I can find the Jack London in me. If I write anything, I would again write from the perspective of "Ultra Learner". This years AH was very disappointing to me, but I did learn from the mistakes I made and will be back in 2010.

Maybe next year we could host an AH 135 social hour(s) after the Saturday gear check ends in the same meeting room. I would be willing to pop for a few cases of beer or wine and some snacks. You could have the projector scrolling old pictures along with 2010 rule updates/changes, etc. Or anyone willing to tell some stories about past trips would also be cool, the AK biker really had some neat pics and stories.

Also, my parents made it up again and they were much more relaxed about my participation this year and where again in complete amazement of what you organize and the people who travel to complete in the event.

Have a great spring, stay in touch. Let me know when you want my $$ for 2010 AH!!

Jack

Jarom Thurston USA/Brazil

2009-02-16T18:43:00.002-06:00

(a quick update on my condition from the BR135 & AH 135 mile Ultra Marathons back-to-back)

I just got back from Brazil the end of January after running the BR135 for the second year in a row (but this time in a conservative 56 hours) and then had only eight days to get back to run the Arrowhead 135 in International Falls, Minnesota. The race started Monday Feb 2nd and finished Wednesday night the 4th. I'm back in Utah now but miss the Brazilian summer weather!

I ran a great race for over 30+ hours, but unfortunately had to make the tough decision to drop out at mile 90 (sad but true). The hardest thing was the fact that I was leading the race from about mile 75 to mile 90 and by over two hours from the 2nd and 3rd runners, but I was seriously too affraid for my life and safety. This race is VERY VERY dangerous as it's a race with very little support, you must be self-supported and there's only two check points/aid stations both in the first half of the race...the second half, about the last 60 miles there's no support and temps reached -15F degree the first night and I struggled to get through it....the second night reached -34F (ouch) and I knew I would have a difficult (and unsafe) time if I continued on alone for the second night w/o more support going on no sleep.

This was my first ever attempt at a winter race/ultra event and I was discovering that there's a big difference from other warmer climate ultras. So I stopped, despite being in the lead, at mile 90, just before the sun went down on the second day. After waiting for two hours for snowmobiles I finally saw the 2nd and 3rd place runners catching up to me as I was heading backwards on the course towards Highway 23 (where I knew if the snowmobilers would be back for hours I might be able to flag down a car for a ride). I congratulated the two runners and told them I was not going to continue on any farther and wished my best in their efforts to finish the race. About 3 miles back I was able to find a ride with the father of one of the two Naval Academy athletes and spent the night in their cabin at Mel George's on Elephant Lake.

There were two of my brazilian friends who came to run it too. One dropped out after 18 miles the other miraculously recovered from hypothermia the first night and continued on to finish in 58 hours!!! He had tried running this race last year (2008) and almost lost his feet to frostbite by the first checkpoint, but came back to try again and DID IT! (Way to go Marcio Villar) The course record holder had dropped out about 52 miles into the race. Even the Race Director, who runs it every year abandoned the race at the second checkpoint!!!
The whole event was filmed and recored by a Brazilian TV News crew (Globo TV) and will air soon so I'll have to send you a link to it to watch when it's available online. (But in Portuguese, sorry.)

On the race site blog and they mentioned my foot. I did have some pain in my right ankle from the BR135 the week prior but that wasn't why I dropped out. The main reason was that for the first time in an ultra marathon I was affraid for my life and safety if I were to continue on a second night w/o support and sleep in those conditions. Pulling a 30lb sled of equipment, water, food and clothes in the snow after 135 miles in the Brazilian mountains just a week before was proving too much. I underestimated this race and was NOT mentally prepared to be fully self-sufficient out there 2 days and two nights. So I played it safe and threw in the towel. I'm sure running the BR135 one week prior didn't help my chances either, as I was very much still recovering from that extreme challenge too.

Jarom Thurston - www.JaromsRunningPage.blogspot.com

Link to Jarom's Blog

Marlin Ledin reports

2009-02-16T18:33:00.004-06:00

Pierre,
I've posted a report on my blog at http://utilitariantransports.com

Link to Marlin Ledin Blog

Here's a paragraph anyway...

"It was about 35 miles to Melgeorges checkpoint. I figured I had gone 20 miles since the last checkpoint. A snowmobile pulled over and told me I had 28 miles to the next checkpoint, Melgoeorges. That meant I had only gone 6 miles. I couldn't believe it. I was excited and satisfied with the newly presented challenge ahead of me. I was warm, had energy, and was happy. All I needed to do was keep movin'. Needless to say it was a very long 6 more hours of pedaling, walking, and beautiful scenery engulfed in complete silence and solitude. This is why I had signed up, for adventure and a humbling challenge, and this is what I was getting."

Thanks Pierre and Cheryl! ~You Rock! I can't wait for next year.
Marlin Ledin

Walter Kremsreiter

2009-02-16T18:28:00.002-06:00

Pierre & Cheryl,

It's almost 2 weeks since the Arrowhead Winter Ultra 135. Like so many others I had high expectations of finishing this intense survival race that few attept and even fewer finish. I was in the company of more than a few skilled, determined competitive endurance athletes. Only the toughest in the world will attack and finish this survival test of ones mindset and physical capabilities.

There are more details involved than any other race I have read about. I say read about cause the Arrowhead is not only my second Ultra, it was the second time I've ever attempted a race over a 5k. I've only run 2 5k's in the last 15 years.

Pierre you gave me the chance to compete with some of the greatest. While I know I'm not the only one to DNF, I'm stuck in a dilemma of pride. We all got some pretty cool items. One being the T-shirts that we all can wear to show off this wild race. But not having finished I don't feel I should have the honor and privilege of wearing it. I would hate for those that had finished to look at me wearing this shirt and be like "That dude DNF'ed! Where does he get off wearing that shirt?" I have always felt one should earn the honor of wearing something like this. So what to do? I haven't figured that out yet.

Thanks for the most awsome experience, a great time and just for giving a dreaming finisher a shot. I'll be back next year, better planned, better trained, more experienced, 'cause after this every other race is just a stepping stone, a training run if you will, for the Arrowhead 135.

So until 2010, good luck and be safe,

#47 Walker Kremsreiter

In therapy with Charlie Farrow

2009-02-16T18:09:00.005-06:00

Freudian therapist: “How are you doing today? Where were we? Oh yes, you were going to start at the beginning. That is, the beginning of the Arrowhead 135. Tell me about this event. Were you able to enjoy healthy social intercourse with the other competitors? Did you use some of the coping mechanisms we worked on?”

For the full unabridged story....see 2009 Arrowhead 135 Parts III, II, & I on my blog...
http://www.cpfarrow.blogspot.com/

Itz not short...but the really is LONG :)

Cheers,

Charlie

Bert Chamberlain

2009-02-16T17:54:00.005-06:00

I participated in the Arrowhead 135. I didn't finish but I was very pleased with my attempt. It is my opinion that a large part of challenges like the Arrowhead is how the race is organized from the directors to the volunteers. My impression of the Arrowhead is all positive. From the participants to the volunteers everyone was making sure that people were safe and having fun. I especially want to point out the caring and professionalism of the volunteer nurse. Thank you. I want to give kudos to the volunteers on the snowmobiles who had for the safety of the athletes as their top priority. They would check and recheck anyone that they had a concern for. A job well done. Even the athletes who did not finish the race wanted to be sure that everyone was safe. The attitude of the athletes and the volunteers comes from the leadership of the directors. I congratulate the leadership of the the Arrowhead 135 for having a very successful event. I plan to try again next year. Thank you, Bert Chamberlain.

Dave Gray 2009 race report on Surly Blog

2009-02-15T22:27:00.005-06:00

I had just returned from the grocery store at 4pm Saturday night, after dropping $92 and some change on “race food”, when the nausea set in. I dismissed it as pre-race jitters and the effects of sleep deprivation after spending much of the previous night readying my gear for my 4th Arrowhead 135 race. Unfortunately, the queasy feeling failed to cease,.........

..............As more finishers, non-finishers, volunteers, family, and friends showed up, a fuller picture of the race progression started to unfold. I enjoyed every racer’s account of their journey. We geeked out on gear, traded trail stories, and speculated on the whereabouts and health of the racers still on the march. Dad and I had to hit the road around 2pm. I would have enjoyed hanging out with more of the riders after the race, but the schedule didn’t allow it. Next year, I think I’ll stay in Tower an extra night before returning home.

Pierre and Cheryl Oster (the race directors) and all of the generous volunteers did a great job again this year. Hats off to you all. To the racers and their support crews, especially mine – my Dad…Thanks for playing. I hope to see you again sooner than later.

Dave

Link to the full report on Surly Blog

Big Wheel Building: A135: The Whole Story.

2009-02-07T15:05:00.005-06:00

(Photo of Pierre on the first turnaround section of the Arrowhead Trail, courtesy of Mike Curiak)

Mike's race report with beaudacious prose and photos are found at the following link:

Big Wheel Building-- A135: The Whole Story.

Mike's Arrowhead slideshow on Picasa

Viddyou slideshow with music.

Final Finisher Tim Roe 6:08pm Feb. 4, 2009

2009-02-04T18:15:00.007-06:00

Tim Roe completed the Arrowhead on foot at 6:08pm Wed.

Of 59 starters, 24 finished the Arrowhead in under 60 hours and 1 was disqualified.

26 bikers started, 15 finished.
26 on foot, 8 finished
7 skiers, 1 finished.

Official Firsts/Lasts:

First biker, first overall- Terry Brannick, RI Started at 8:30 am Mon. and finished at 5:30am Tues. in 21 hours.

Charlie Farrow, 2nd bike, 2nd overall, Duluth, MN started at 7:32am and finished together with Brannick at 5:30am Tues. in 21h 58 min.

First foot, Eric Johnson, Ogden UT, 13th overall, left at 7:13am and finished at 6:08am Wed. in 46h 55min.

First skier, Jeremy Kershaw, left at 7:40am and arrived at 3:14pm Wed. for 21st overall in 55h 34 min.

Youngest Finisher- Luke Finney, Us Naval Academy, age 20, left at 7:14 and finished 12:41pm Wed. for 4th foot and 19th overall in 53h 27 min.

Last Lone Wolf award to Melgeorges checkpoint at 11:50am Tues., Jason Giddings, biker, who eventually dropped on trail.

Last finisher, Tim Roe, started Monday on foot at 7:24 am and completed the Arrowhead at 6:08pm Wed. in 58h 44 min.

Temps dipped to -34F degrees in Tower the second night and usually temps are at least 5 degrees colder in low spots on the trail.

To see detailed results chart, click on link--
Results.htm page

6th & 7th foot finishers

2009-02-04T17:51:00.004-06:00

6th on foot: Marcio Villar, Brazil finished on foot at 5:48pm Wed, started 7:40am Monday, Intl Falls.

7th on foot: Carles Conill, Spain finished at the same time as Villar, but started 7:11am Mon. Intl Falls.

Tim Roe is a few miles out from the finish.

First and only skier finishes

2009-02-04T15:35:00.003-06:00

Skier, Jeremy Kershaw completes the Arrowhead and crosses the finish line at about 3:14pm Wed, First skier, 21st overall.

More news on participants

2009-02-04T14:58:00.003-06:00

John Taylor, foot, dropped 2 miles before the tipi checkpoint on Wed.

Skier, Jeremy Kershaw was seen running, carrying his skis at about 16 miles out at 12:30pm. Now he is 2 or 3 miles away from the finish.

Brazilian Marcio Villar is struggling. He was previously seen about 16 or 18 miles away from the finish at 12:30pm on Wed. Now he is out about 6 miles from the finish.

Carles Conill is now behind Villar at 12:30pm but his exact location is not known at this point. Tim Roe is still out on foot as well.

The sun is shining and it has warmed up considerably since the morning when it was -30F degrees.

These are the last 4 people left to finish. Everyone else is safe and accounted for.