Arrowhead Ultra(COLD) 135

The Arrowhead Ultra 135 starts in International Falls, Mn., better known as America's "Icebox"! Racers must make the 135 mile self supported trek from International Falls to Tower, Mn by biking, skiing or running. All participants are required to have mandatory gear such as a -20 degree rated sleeping bag, bivy sack or tent, fire starter, stove and fuel, 2L insulated water containers, and finish the race with 3000 calories of extra food.

Race morning arrived, -19 degrees, Kerry Ice Arena parking lot, the Start. The parking lot was an eerie sight, with thick clouds of vehicle exhaust rising through the frigid night air pierced by the blinking LED lights which adorned the fronts and backs of all race participants. I had butterflies the size of condors waiting for the starter's pistol to sound, I was definitely afraid of the unknown fueled by the stories I had heard the night before at the pre-race meeting. At precisely 7 a.m. the journey began.

I made a rookie mistake right from the start, not matching my tire pressure to the trail conditions! My tires were way too soft and people were blowing by me like I was standing still, I knew I needed to add air but I didn't want to give up any more places. Trying to keep pace I was working up a sweat, a major "no-no" at -19 degrees 2 miles into the race. I saw another racer pulled over to the side adding air, I decided to join him. Sufficiently aired up, I settled down and got into a groove en route to the first checkpoint, the Gateway General Store. Roughly 35 miles and 5 hours into the race I was feeling pretty good. I grabbed a quick ham sandwich and Gatorade and checked in and out. The start of the second leg was more of the same, a fairly hard fast track, I had visions of a sub 20 hour finish, but course conditions can change quickly! As snowmobile traffic increased the trail surface began to get softer and the hills became more frequent. I was still enjoying the cloudless blue sky and the sound of the fat tires as they rolled along the cold squeaky snow. Closing in on 11 hours on the bike, with temperatures plummeting, and darkness settling in, a sign read "2 miles to Melgeorge Resort", the second checkpoint, mile 70. Two miles on a Pugsley with a frozen hub and a frozen rider seemed like an eternity!

I entered checkpoint 2 which was a beautiful two story cabin with fireplace ablazing and racers sprawled out in various states of undress feasting on a variety of food. I was immediately offered a bowl of hot wild rice soup and grilled cheese sandwich and a seat next to the roaring fire. Race volunteers were collecting wet clothes from the racers and drying them in the clothes dryer. Mentally I was at a low point in the race, I had serious thoughts of calling it quits. I even asked one of the volunteers when the next ride back to Int'l Falls was, fortunately they said not until 10 a.m. the next morning. I thought "hell I can be done by then with a little luck." With warm dry clothes and a full belly it was on to checkpoint 3.

I had heard rumors that the third leg of the race was the toughest, those rumors were definitely TRUE! The hills were relentless, temps at -35 degrees, and I didn't see a soul. I was questioning my sanity for leaving checkpoint 2 but I was in "no-man's land" with no choice but to continue on. At 5:30 a.m. I was at my lowest point of the race, but on top of the highest point of the course with one bar on my cell phone, I called my wife Heidi. That friendly voice was the kick in the butt I needed to carry on. Nearing checkpoint 3 I was out of fluids when I caught up to a racer stopped along the side of the trail, he offered me his last half a cup of slushy chicken broth, it was awesome! The Crescent Moon bar was the final checkpoint before the flat 22 mile ride to the finish.

After refueling on barley soup, a beef sandwich and about a half gallon of coke, it was time to get this over with. Shortly after leaving checkpoint 3 my left knee really began to hurt when I pedaled. I got off the bike and walked a few times, walking didn't hurt, but I couldn't push the bike 22 miles! I decided I would pedal 150 revolutions and walk 25 steps. I continued this until I was down to doing 100 revs to 50 steps. After 31 hours, I finally arrived at the sign to the Fortune Bay Casino, the race finish, adrenaline must have kicked in, because there was no pain to the finish line!

Its been a week since the race, I don't know if I would have did anything any different. Prior to the race I placed various nutritional products in the freezer to see which ones were the most edible while frozen. My nutrition on the bike was perfect and consisted of: Powerbar energy gel blasts, Powerbar electrolyte drink, Larabars, Clif Shot Bloks, and beef bouillon. Hycreek.com's baselayer products and balaclava kept warm and dry in the sub zero temps. My only real injury is frostbite to two toes that I was unaware that I had until after the race. The Arrowhead Ultra 135 is a well run and well organized event, but it definitely isn't for WIMPS!!!!