Arrowhead 135 Explained

Bgcolour:white
Date:Late January or early February
Location:International Falls, Minnesota, U.S.
Type:Ultramarathon trail foot/ski/bike
Distance:135miles
Est:2005
Organizer:Ken and Jackie Krueger
Record:Jake Hegge (ft) 28:27 (2022)
Gretchen Metsa (ft) 33:05 (2022)
Dan Campbell (ski) 20:57 (2020)
Shalane Frost (ski) 20:41 (2022)
Jorden Wakeley (bike) 11:43 (2019)
Jill Martindale (bike) 16:40 (2017)
Homepage:http://www.arrowheadultra.com/

The Arrowhead 135 is a yearly ultramarathon event which takes place in International Falls, Minnesota, United States.

Course and race

The trail is 135 miles on Arrowhead State Trail from Kerry Park arena in International Falls, MN to Tower, MN Fortune Bay Casino. Modes of transportation includes foot, ski or bicycle, and the race is held in late January or early February.[1]

Temperatures along the course reach as low as -45F degrees.[2]

Arrowhead 135 is a self-supported race with limited checkpoints, requiring extensive supplies to be carried with the racer.[3] [4] The roster is limited in order to maintain solitude on the trail during the race.[5]

Profits from the race go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation Charity,[6] Together For Good and the Falls Hunger Coalition.[7]

An "unsupported" option allows participants to choose to complete the race unsupported, meaning they are not allowed to accept help or stop at any of the checkpoints along the way.[2]

Although not sanctioned by the event, some choose to complete the event in both directions making it a "Double Arrowhead".[8]

History and records

Arrowhead 135 is known as one of the toughest 50 races in the world.[5] [9] As many as 80% fail to finish the race,[10] with a low of 20% finishing in 2007,[11] on a typical year less than 50 percent of the participants finish.[12] It was started in 2005 with 10 people,[13] and the format of the race has been largely unchanged.[7]

The race gathered extra attention in 2014[14] and 2019 due to the polar vortex which caused extreme cold in the midwest those years.[3] [7] [15] [16]

In 2014 an adventure film documentary was made about the race.[17] [18]

Notable finishes

a'Trois award

All who finish Arrowhead 135 three times, once in each discipline including bike/run/ski, are eligible for Arrowhead a'Trois award.[28] As of January 2020, 18 have been awarded.[29]

The first athletes completing the award in 2011 were Jeremy Kershaw, Tim Roe, and Matt Maxwell.[28]

Order of the Hrimthurs

All those who complete the Tuscobia Winter Ultra (160 Mile), Arrowhead 135 and Actif Epica (any solo distance) in one season are allowed into the Order of the Hrimthurs.[30] Names are maintained by Actif Epica.[31]

Arrowhead 135 race director Ken Krueger earned placement in the order of the Hrimthurs in 2018.[32]

Known as the most difficult individual award of the winter.[30]

References

  1. Web site: The Polar Vortex Couldn't Stop This 135-Mile Ultramarathon. Andrew. Dawson. 2019-01-31. Men's Health. en-US. 2020-01-14.
  2. Web site: 'Brutal' Arrowhead 135 ultramarathon begins Monday in International Falls. Ott. Kevin. January 26, 2018. Duluth News Tribune. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180128185444/http://www.duluthnewstribune.com:80/sports/outdoors/4394532-brutal-arrowhead-135-ultramarathon-begins-monday-international-falls . 2018-01-28 . January 14, 2020.
  3. News: Racing Through the Polar Vortex. Minsberg. Talya. 2019-02-07. The New York Times. 2020-01-14. en-US. 0362-4331.
  4. Web site: Arrowhead 135 - Race Rules. www.arrowheadultra.com. 2020-01-14.
  5. Web site: Arrowhead 135, 146 insane athletes, and biking all day in below-zero temps. Ovcharchyn. Hannah. City Pages. 2020-01-14.
  6. Minnesota Ultramarathoners Enjoy Competing in Minus 28-Degree Weather. Time. 30 January 2019 . en. 2020-01-14.
  7. Web site: As arctic blast smacks Minnesota, Arrowhead 135 racers will hit the trail. MPR News. 27 January 2019 . 2020-01-14.
  8. Web site: One 135-mile endurance race wasn't enough; ultramarathoners get their 'Double Arrowhead'. Star Tribune. 2020-01-14.
  9. Web site: 146 people are racing 135 miles across northern Minnesota in subzero cold. January 30, 2019. Fox 9. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200114153437/https://www.fox9.com/weather/146-people-are-racing-135-miles-across-northern-minnesota-in-subzero-cold . 2020-01-14 . January 13, 2020.
  10. Web site: Race the Arrowhead 135, Minnesota, Best American Adventures -- National Geographic. https://web.archive.org/web/20170729122630/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/features/best-trips/best-american-adventures/race-arrowhead-135/. dead. July 29, 2017. 2010-08-02. Adventure. en. 2020-01-14.
  11. News: In 'Icebox of the Nation,' arctic blast is just another day. 2019-01-31. Reuters. 2020-01-14. en.
  12. Web site: Arrowhead 135: 'Coldest gosh-darn race' is short on finishers. 2019-01-30. For The Win. en. 2020-01-14.
  13. Web site: Arrowhead 135 - 2005 Results. www.arrowheadultra.com. 2020-01-14.
  14. Web site: Arrowhead 135 race grows into survival of the frostiest. Star Tribune. 2020-01-15.
  15. Web site: In the midst of the polar vortex, 52 people completed this 135-mile ultramarathon in northern Minnesota — biking, skiing, and running through the coldest corner of America. Brueck. Hilary. Business Insider. 2020-01-14.
  16. Web site: There are 7 runners in Minnesota trying to finish an ultramarathon in the insane cold. Murphy. Paul. 2019-01-29. CNN. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200114200703/https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/polar-vortex-2019/h_759fd98915634c1ec15d7e78c5bdee68 . 2020-01-14 . 2020-01-14.
  17. Web site: Twin Cities PBS. Twin Cities PBS. 15 January 2016 . en. 2020-01-14.
  18. Web site: The Arrowhead 135. Adventure MN. en. 2020-01-14.
  19. Web site: Jorden Wakeley sets Arrowhead record. Emily. Gedde. International Falls Journal. en. 2020-01-14.
  20. Web site: Course record smashed by cyclist at frosty edition of Arrowhead 135 in Minnesota. 2019-01-30. Canadian Cycling Magazine. en-US. 2020-01-14.
  21. Web site: Two Minnesotans in their 70s tackle 135-mile winter wilderness trek. Chin. Richard. January 25, 2018. Star Tribune. en. 2020-01-14.
  22. Web site: Arrowhead 135 Endurance Award Ennobles Explorer Ernest Shackleton's Expedition. 2014-07-02. Snowshoe Magazine. en-US. 2020-01-16.
  23. Web site: Arrowhead 135 - Double Crossing - MN Fastest Known Time. fastestknowntime.proboards.com. 2020-01-16.
  24. Web site: Ten Junk Miles: Long Run 52 - Kate Coward - Kari Anne Gibbons. tenjunkmiles.libsyn.com. 2020-01-17.
  25. Web site: Minnesota Mom Finishes Grueling 135-Mile Winter Bike Race – While Breastfeeding. 2016-01-28. en-US. 2020-01-14.
  26. Web site: Despite a Pole Break 20 Miles In, Minneapolis Local Mike Brumbaugh Wins Arrowhead Ultra. FasterSkier.com. en-US. 2020-01-14.
  27. Web site: Fairbanks' Shalane Frost snags ski record at Arrowhead 135 . Alaska Sports Report . 3 February 2022 . 11 February 2022.
  28. Web site: 2016 Arrowhead 135: Racing 'Round the Clock. Smith. Phillip Gary. 2016-02-25. Snowshoe Magazine. en-US. 2020-01-14.
  29. Web site: Arrowhead 135 - Awards. www.arrowheadultra.com. 2020-01-14.
  30. Web site: The Road to Hrimthurs: "Weeping Bitter Tears of Rage". Smith. Phillip Gary. 2015-07-04. Snowshoe Magazine. en-US. 2020-01-14.
  31. Web site: The Order of the Hrimthurs. 2018-10-17. Actif Epica. en. 2020-01-14.
  32. Web site: Ken Krueger earns 'Order of the Hrimthurs'. Whitney. Jackson. International Falls Journal. en. 2020-01-14.

External links

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Arrowhead 135".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.