Arrowhead 2012 A Keeper! We Sleep Now.

Thursday, 02 February 2012 20:38 Last Updated on Friday, 02 March 2012 20:56 Written by Dave Pramann

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FYI: Arrowhead Mascot Baby Lilly Adopted by way loving family last week!

Proving an extraordinary strong field Ultra-Winter Racers, 2012 Arrowhead 135 supplied Lots o' Records despite rather soft course conditions mild "snizzely"(snow and drizzle) weather.  WeeHaw!

Numerous "fastest" were broken including: Fastest Skier Ever the Minnesota/Wisconsin NorthLands CASEY KRUEGER breaking old ski record by astounding 14 hrs. 

Fastest Woman Biker Ever Colorado's ESZTER HORANYI  by a couple hours at 18+hrs!

Fastest Man Runner Duluth's Sir JASON BUFFINGTON by 45 minutes in 37hrs and change.  

Most Skiers ever to finish...Seven, almost equaling total amount in 8 previous races put together.

Oldest Finisher ever...Erwin Berglund finishing strong on da bike at 69yrs old!  Holy Moley!

Closest Exciting Bike Finish Ever Alaskans BREITENBACH and BERNTSON: about a tire width.  Previous BasingerOatleyPramann 2010 finish was a tire width and a half.  

Most Finishers Ever at 81.  Highest Percentage Ever at ~75%. Mild conditions provided tough going in spots but allowed folks to "Tough It Out", and finish. 

Fine Volunteers Everywhere, Great sponsors and local Hosts at Nations IceBox I-Falls/Gateway Store/MelGeorge Resort/Ski-Pulk and Fortune Bay provided a Home Run for racers.

Arrowhead 135 Inc. donated ~150lbs Food to  nice I-Falls Foodshelf and while we figure out da bills, should be $+5000 to Spec Ops Warrior Foundation Charity and Local Snowmobile Clubs for THANKS using the nice Arrowhead Trail!  Cool.

2012 Race Recap

Thursday, 02 February 2012 11:50 Last Updated on Thursday, 02 February 2012 13:06 Written by Administrator

Thanks to everyone who came out to run, bike, ski, cheer, volunteer, provide beer, etc., at the 2012 Arrowhead 135.

I'll let Dave n Mary add their thoughts once they a chance to return home and find a computer to use but I wanted to say that this was quite an experience.  I didn't know I could be (mostly) functional and (not too) cranky on only a couple of hours of sleep for 3 days.  I've participated in a number of ultra-type events but never as a volunteer.  I think volunteering is a bit more exciting...

I started a galleries article with links to some initial photo galleries.  Go to the Galleries menu to see the 2012 Galleries.  I'll add more as I hear of them.

-- Russ (the web, Facebook, results guy)

2012 Race Updates

Monday, 30 January 2012 08:46 Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 February 2012 20:06 Written by Administrator

LAST UPDATE 20:00.  All competitors have finished!  All within time limit!  Corrado Buzzolan earns the Shackleton Expedition Award for the most time on the course.

I need a nap.

Update 2/1 15:00.  Ten runners left on course...

Update 2/1 11:05.  Everyone (who could) has made it through the final checkpoint.  A few more runners dropped and a few more finished.  The final checkpoint is also now closed.  The campfire at the finish is delightful...

Update 2/1 08:49.  Busy morning at final checkpoint - Ski Pulk.  Another dozen runners traveled through.  A couple of more finishers, as well.  It should get busy here at the finish sooooon.

Update 2/1 05:36.  Busy night at the final checkpoint - Ski Pulk.  Or as a few grizzled race veterans say - the Tepee of Despair... A dozen runners n skiers traveled through that checkpoint overnight.  The finish line should get busy soooon.

Update 2/1 05:07.  A quiet night at the finish line (and 3 hours of sleep).  Just a few finishers, but now the runners have arrived.  4 have finished.  Should be a busy morning.

Update 1/31 20:36.  1st runner to finish!  New course record?!?  Yes, confirmed!

Update 1/31 16:12.  Updates from Mary at MelGeorge complete.  Go to Results page.  Runners on their way!

Update 1/31 14:43.  Lots of finishers recorded.  First runner through last checkpoint!  Also MelGeorge checkpoint has closed.  I'll get updates from Mary soooon.

Update 1/31 11:23.  Up from a short nap...  Lots of activity.  Competitors are up and moving!  Lots of new updates posted on the Results page.  There's even some sun in the sky...

Update 1/31 05:54.  Casey Krueger 1st skier.  22:05.  15th overall. Broke previous men's skier record by 14+ hours.   Double wow!

Update 1/31 03:52.  Back awake...  Eszter Horanyi 1st woman in at 12:18 this morning.  9th overall.  Broke previous women's record by almost 2 hrs.  Wow!

Update 1/30 23:11.  Kevin Breitenbach inches out Tim Berntson by a wheel width!  Pictures forthcoming.

Update 1/30 21:23.  7 riders have passed through Ski Pulk tent checkpoint.  1 skier passed through MelGeorge.  Results page has all the details. Time for me to get outside and watch for the leaders finishing at Fortune Bay!

Update 1/30 19:53.  3 leaders have entered and exited the last checkpoint (Ski Pulk tent).  Check the Results page.

Update 1/30 17:25.  About a dozen cyclists have entered and exited MelGeorge's Resort checkpoint.  I heard runners are starting to arrive at Gateway Store checkpoint.  The MelGeorge times for have been updated on the Results page.  Still waiting to hear updates from 3 pm from Gateway....

Update 1/30. 14:42.  I'm about to take off for the finish - Fortune Bay.  I'll be offline for an hour or so.

Update 1/30 14:11.  Only a dozen riders left to arrive at Gateway.  Only 6 skiers left to arrive.  No runners, yet....

Update 1/30 13:20 PM.  More skiers arrived at Gateway.  A few have departed.  Still waiting on first runners.

Update 1/30 12:15 PM.  First skier made it to the Gateway Store checkpoint at 11:31.  Wow!  Check the Results page.

Update: 1/30 10:55 AM.  Bike leaders through Gateway checkpoint around 10:25.  Results page updated.

And they're off!  A balmy 10 deg this morning at International Falls. 

Check back here throughout the day for updates.  The Results page will also include racers' times as they enter and leave checkpoints.

Here are the bikers starting at 7 AM.


 

ARROWHEAD COMIN UP NEXT

Monday, 16 January 2012 15:20 Last Updated on Thursday, 19 January 2012 19:31 Written by Dave Pramann

altphoto by Brian Peterson

"If I am asked: What is the use of traversing the Arrowhead?  I reply, No use at all; no more than kicking a football about or dancing or playing the piano or writing a poem, or painting a picture....But if there is no use, there is unquestionable good in ascending Mt. WakemUp and completing 135 hard miles.  The accomplishment of such a feat will elevate the human spirit.  It will give men and women a feeling that we really are getting the upper hand on Earth, that we are acquiring a small bit of  mastery of our surroundings....If Man stands at the Arrowhead finish he will have an increased pride and confidence in himself, in his struggle for ascendancy over matter.  This is the incalculable good which the finish of the Arrowhead 135 will confer"..Sir Francis Younghusband-RGS 1919

SNOWBIKES, RUNNERS AND SKIERS EVERYWHERE, NOW ALL WE NEED IS SNOW!

Wednesday, 14 December 2011 10:13 Last Updated on Sunday, 18 December 2011 13:31 Written by Dave Pramann

For those not intimately familiar with Arrowhead Trail, here are some videos and a "mapmyride" giving some idea:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/55003390

mapmyride approximate route, not showing zigs and zags especially around Elephant Lake.  elevation gain not accurate, more like +7000' from racer GPS data.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeWLedxPuNc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw-1W6dj2Cw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XdnanD9eLw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iBIfU-Zpuk&feature=related

ARROWHEAD SPONSORS/FRIENDS!!

Monday, 21 November 2011 17:49 Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 December 2011 07:48 Written by Dave Pramann

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All ARROWHEAD 135 great Supporting Sponsors are back 2012 including: Revelate Designs, Surly (Pugsley), Salsa (Mukluk), Speedway (Fatback), Chain Reaction (907), BarMitts , SkiPulk , Empire Wool and Canvas Co. along with  lodging/checkpoint partners MelGeorge, Fortune Bay, Gateway Store and "Americas IceBox" the Friendly City of International Falls! And don't forget of course nice Minnesota DNR and US Forest Service.

We are also way lucky with new friends this year including: O2 Rainwear (great cycling rainwear, etc from Minnesota), North Branch Dental (for your post-race mouth problem), Arctic Innovations-Hydro Heater (heated camelbak hose), Batteries Plus in Savage, MN (owned by racer Iron Mike Criego), Dogwood Designs (from Alaska, best pogie/poagies out there) email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Working on a couple more.

Some of these folks will be at our pre-race check in with stuff and we are going to have another better than ever "World Famous Arrowhead Schwag Drawing" at dinner meeting.

We'll be putting more info up on our sponsors soon on separate tab.  Keep them in mind for gear and services please, we could not have the Arrowhead without them....

"WHY I SHOULD BE IN DA ARROWHEAD"

Sunday, 13 November 2011 20:10 Last Updated on Monday, 14 November 2011 07:43 Written by Dave Pramann

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Dear Arrowhead: Perhaps the compelling reason to allow me to participate in this year's Arrowhead 135 has to do with my rather ascetic beginnings.....I am the love child product of a passionate romantic tryst, somewhere on the steep slopes of an alp located within the Karakoram Range, betwixt two of the greatest explorers of the Golden Age--namely Amelia Earhardt and Ernest Shackleton.

My mother never told Shackleton for fear the news would cause him indigestion.  She also knew she could never raise me properly as she was allergic to children.  She courageously sold me to a tribe of Sherpa mountain folk.  This loving clan of simple people could not provide for me as they had collective distaste for all things which were smallish, cried, and occasionally stinky.  Thus my second parents with great regret traded me to an English mountaineering troupe for a few liters of "flavored" Chai.

Luckily for me, their leader, the Great Mallory, had a predilection for infants, feeling they brought good luck, so he agreed to the trade with the stipulation that no one would object to him carrying me along in his rucksack as he made his historic summit attempt on the flanks of Mount Everest.  Given that his demise is well-recorded within the annuls of mountaineering lore, suffice to say that I was tossed off the mountain in a futile effort to save weight as the air thinned and Mallory became obsessed with gaining a foothold upon the top of the world.

Picked up by a pride of Yetis, I was raised to manhood by these uncomplicated and exceedingly shy beasts.  In a tear-wrenching encounter with the great alpinist Reinhold Messner, my adoptive parents reluctantly gave me up to the Italian Superstar in trade for a broken, yet shiny Rubik's Cube.

Messner regaled me with stories of great adventure during our brief time together, but alas he too found it too difficult to offer me sanctuary as he complained I smelled of old musky socks and displayed poor table manners.

Messner traded me to the Mayo brothers, who were traveling near the base of Annapurna, in exchange for a few doses of Diamox and that is how I found my way to Rochester, Minnesota as a young man.

Dear Mr. _ _ _ _ _ _: We are sorry but the roster is full.  Plus, just having a robust, adventurous childhood does not, in itself, qualify you for this "God-Forsaken" race.  Signed, AH 135

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