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Brazilian Carla Goulart (24), shown pulling her sled as she approaches the Highway 53 crossing south of Ericsburg while running in the 2014 Arrowhead 135, has returned to be in this year’s ultramarathon. Goulart is attempting to become the first South American woman to complete the race within 60 hours after missing the cutoff time last year by 10 minutes.

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Minnesotan David Gray (44), shown approaching the Gateway General Store checkpoint in Kabetogama as he rides a bicycle in the 2014 Arrowhead 135, finished last year’s race fourth overall in 25 hours, 57 minutes. He also is among the bikers, runners and skiers on the 2015 ultramarathon roster.

Ultramarathon racers from around the United States, Canada and elsewhere in the world will be in International Falls this weekend getting ready for the 11th annual Arrowhead 135.

Race organizer Ken Krueger said more than 160 runners, bicyclists and skiers are expected to be in Minnesota’s northland, where they will attempt to complete 135 miles along the Arrowhead State Trail early next week within 60 hours.

Rated in several publications as one of the world’s top-50 most challenging endurance races, the Arrowhead 135 has a finish rate of historically less than 50 percent.

Of the 142 athletes in last year’s race, only 47 finished — 30 bikers, 16 runners and one skier.

This year’s Arrowhead 135 starts at 7 a.m. Monday at Kerry Park in the Falls. The runners, bicyclists and skiers will have until 7 p.m. Wednesday to reach the Fortune Bay Casino near Tower. The race is held during the week to avoid weekend snowmobile traffic.

In the first year of the Arrowhead 135, there were 10 racers who competed and five finished. For 2015, Krueger said the race’s reputation as one of the toughest on earth once again attracted athletes to register with approximately 110 entrants having been in the ultramarathon before and the others participating in the race for the first time.

This year’s roster includes the 2014 overall top finisher – Jay Petervary, 42, of Idaho – who completed the ultramarathon on a bike in 20 hours, 11 minutes, and last year’s top female – Tracey Petervary, 42, of Idaho – who finished fifth overall on a bike in 27:22:00. Minnesotan Scott Hoberg, 36, who was the first runner to reach the finish last year in 43:26:00, is also on the 2015 roster.

Racers must meet minimum qualifications to be able to apply, such as finishing a 100-mile foot race, finishing a 24-hour bike race – with a minimum of 100 miles completed for off-road, or 200 miles on-road – or finishing a 24-hour ski race with a minimum of 125 kilometers completed.

Krueger said everyone who is able to complete the race next week within 60 hours will receive a trophy, while the last one to finish before the cutoff time will receive a special endurance award. There is also a special trophy called the “Arrowhead a’Trois” for those over the ultramarathon’s history who have completed the race by running, biking and skiing.

Krueger, who is one of the six athletes to have completed the Arrowhead 135 in all three disciplines and is in his second year as the race director, said the ultramarathon is intentionally scheduled for the coldest part of winter in the “Icebox of the Nation.”

The extended forecast for early next week, however, calls for mild winter weather with air temperatures predicted to remain in the double digits above zero.

Below-zero temperatures with bitterly cold wind chills affected the number of finishers in last year’s ultramarathon, which had the largest number of starters and second-lowest percentage of finishers in the race’s history.

In the 2013 Arrowhead 135, which had milder temperatures, several inches of snow that fell during the ultramarathon affected the number of finishers. Bikers who had yet to reach the finish line before the snowfall arrived had trouble pedaling in the deep snow, for instance. Of the 135 athletes in the 2013 race, only 49 finished — 40 bikers, seven runners and two skiers.

Racers will be traveling around the clock on the Arrowhead snowmobile trail as they reach three checkpoints along the way before arriving at the finish line at Fortune Bay. The racers are required to carry mandatory survival gear.

Proceeds from the Arrowhead 135 go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, the local Minnesota Safe Families for Children organization and the International Falls food shelf.

PRE-RACE EVENTS

Prior to the ultramarathon beginning Monday morning, a couple of public events are planned for this weekend.

A movie about the Arrowhead 135, “Among the Wild,” will be shown Saturday night at the Backus Community Center. The evening will begin at 6:30 with an opening reception that will include a performance from the local bluegrass band Sloughgrass.

The film, which begins at 7:30, includes video footage from the 2013 ultramarathon and follows three racers as they attempt to finish the Arrowhead 135 between the Falls and Fortune Bay.

“We’ve had three sold-out screenings and have received phenomenal feedback from participants of the Arrowhead 135 and the adventure community in Minnesota,” said the film’s director, Brenda Piekarski. “The excitement and the energy surrounding the film has been incredible and literally palpable at each event. We are very pleased and excited to bring the film to its home turf and return to International Falls.”

Piekarski said racers and members of the film crew will be available for questions following the film. Tickets for the event may be purchased at the door for $15.

Also planned for Sunday at Backus following a pre-race meeting for the ultramarathon athletes is a pasta dinner scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Members of the public may attend the dinner by purchasing tickets at the door for $9.