Minnesotan Eric Larsen, the first person to self-propel to both poles and scale Everest all in one year, to participate
Year 7 of the Arrowhead 135 Ultramarathon plans to be the biggest one yet.
The seventh running of the Arrowhead 135 from International Falls to Fortune Bay starts at 7 a.m. Jan. 31, with a cutoff for finishing around 7 p.m. on Feb. 2.
The 140-racer roster is full with racers representing 26 states and seven countries, including several of the top Winter Ultra racers in the world like Jeff Oatley (Alaska), John Storkamp (Hastings, Minn.), Ray Sanchez (California) and several top Brazilians.
Minnesotan Eric Larsen, the first person to self-propel to both poles and scale Everest all in one year, will be a first-time racer. Fifteen women will challenge on the rugged and scenic Arrowhead trail this year, the most ever.
“Among extreme athletes, this event and International Falls is well-known,” said International Falls’ Anton Oveson, a major player in coordinating the race.
Oatley hustled past fellow Alaskan Peter Bassinger down the home stretch last year to win the 2010 Arrowhead 135 Ultramarathon. Oatley’s time of 16 hours, 17 minutes trumped Bassinger’s time by 10 seconds. Out of the 102 participants that took off from Kerry Park in temperatures at 20 degrees below zero, only 61 finished.
Of the 59 participants in 2009, only 24 finished in under 60 hours, and one was disqualified for getting lost and taking a car ride back to the trail. Out of 26 bikers, 15 finished; out of 26 on foot, eight finished and out of seven skiers, one finished.
This year’s field with 140 participants includes 12 skiers, 35 runners and the rest bikers, unofficially.
Assisted by many local outdoor gear companies, the city of International Falls, Fortune Bay Casino, Crescent Bar, MelGeorge Resort and Gateway Store, the 2011 Arrowhead version looks to be more competitive than ever with the current trail fast and weather conditions excellent.
