Arrowhead

[Plugging Along]

The Arrowhead 135 starts Monday. According to the start list Lisa Smith-Batchen has signed up. She is one of the legends of women's ultra marathons. She might be the favorite to win it outright, if she has trained for the conditions. Last year's race saw a high temp of about 10 below zero. This year looks to be about 30 degrees warmer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Smith-Batchen
http://dreamchaserevents.com/lisasmithbatchen/bio.htm

http://www.arrowheadultra.com/index.php/race-inforegistration/2015-roster

Petervary is back to defend his bike title. Tom Puzak's story of trying to catch Petervary last year is, um, interesting.

http://gearjunkie.com/arrowhead-135-race-2014

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It was minus-25 degrees F. It was black, the dead middle of the night, stars whirling above.

Then, very fast things went bad. Puzak ran out of water. He did not know at the time, but racers were dropping out, dozens of DNFs, miles behind him on the trail. No racer ever dropped in front of Puzak, the attrition occurred behind him. Frost bite, exhaustion, hypothermia. No joke.

Puzak nearly became one of the stats with just a couple miles to the end. His water was gone, he could barely move.

But he had to pee.

He put some snow in a water bottle, unzipped and urinated inside. The slosh melted and made some liquid, then Puzak drank it. “It saved me,” he said.
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[merigayle]

I thought she decided not to run? She just got back from Brazil a few days ago.

[Plugging Along]

Yes, she ran the Brazil 175 a few weeks ago. On her facebook page she mentions also doing Arrowhead.  She could be doubling. A strange and expensive double, but it has been tried before. Jarome Thurston tried (and failed) in 2009.
http://jaromsrunningpage.blogspot.com/2009/02/brazil-135-arrowhead-135-in-8-days.html

Lisa's comments.
http://m2.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=894463780563735&id=204965249513595

Arrowhead has posted the starting list and she has bib # 141.
http://www.arrowheadultra.com/index.php/results/2015-results

WOW. I hadn't noticed earlier, but Pam Reed is also on the roster. Bib 117.

Double WOW. And last year's Badwater winner Harvey Lewis. Bib 73.

[merigayle]

I think every year Lisa registers and never runs. Not sure how she did at brazil, the results were confusing, but possibly about 100K? Pam reed? She will blow away! Lol

[Plugging Along]

I think every year Lisa registers and never runs. Not sure how she did at brazil, the results were confusing, but possibly about 100K? Pam reed? She will blow away! Lol

A lot of the trail is among the trees so there is some shelter from the wind. Plus the sled weighs up to 40 pounds so i don't think the wind can get her off the ground. In fact the temps are forecast at 20 above (as opposed to last year's 20 below) and the wind peaking at 10mph. Should be a fast race, Lewis could take down Gingrich's record.

[Plugging Along]

Swede Marcus Berggren hit the mile 37 checkpoint in 7:35. Harvey Lewis is 22 minutes behind.
Neither Reed or Smith have reached the checkpoint, but they have not been marked as a DNS either.
Assuming Jan is female, Jan Kriska of NC is the lead woman.

Google found a bunch of Marcus Berggrens. Swedish isn't my forte, but apparently one is an ultra runner with some 100 milers in the 19 hour range to his credit. Harvey has some work to do.

Jay Petervary is the studliest of muffins. In 2011:
He won the Iditarod 1,100 mile race in record time
Then did the 3,000 mile Race Across America
Then won the Great Divide 2,745 mile race in record time

He is leading the race, but 5 bikers are within 4 minutes of him.
This could be a repeat of 2010 when after 135 miles three bikers ended with a sprint finish just seconds apart.

[Plugging Along]

While I was typing they updated the standings.

They have Pam Reed into the mile 37 checkpoint at 17:51 (10 hours 47 minutes), and leaving it at 17:33, which is 17 minutes before she arrived. Somebody hit a wrong number on the keyboard.

Google says that Jan Kriska is a male who did the Table Rock 50 miler in 8:40

That would put Pam in 3rd. If they switched her in and out times she is about 35 minutes behind the leading woman, Goulart of Brazil.

Lisa Smith's name has disappeared from the list.

[Plugging Along]

At checkpoint #3 (mile 72) 5 bikers are within 4 minutes.

[Plugging Along]

Bike results:

1. Jorden Wakeley, MI, 15:00:00
2. Tim Berntson, AK, 15:00:01
3. Jay Petervary, ID, 15:00:02
4. Todd McFadden, MN 15:00:04

First 4 finishers were 4 seconds apart.

In the run Marcus Berggren still leads. Harvey Lewis is 13 minutes back, Jan Kriska is 19 minutes back.

For the women Pam Reed is in 2nd, an hour and 25 minutes behind Sue Lucas of Canada.

[merigayle]

Lisa is definitely not there. Been chatting with her about other things via email, LOL. Grant Maughn should be another favorite.

[Plugging Along]

Marcus Berggren of Sweden wins the foot race breaking the course record by 3 hours.

Lewis and Kristka are minutes apart for 2nd and may also go under the old record.

[merigayle]

Well, aren't YOU Special

She was my coach for many years and I have spent many days at her home in the past visiting for her races, and of course, hung out in Death Valley many years. Nicest people.

[siamesedream]

I make my coffee indian style: heap good sugar water.

[Plugging Along]

Lewis and Kriska finished with identical times of 38:45. Not sure if they were working together or in a death sprint with each unable to break the other. They have Lewis listed in 2nd, Kriska in 3rd. About 4 and a half hours behind the winner.

Sue Lucas of Canada wins for the women. 42:31. New course record by 5 hours 28minutes.
Pam Reed in 2nd in 49:11.

Easy conditions this year led to high finish rates and the course records getting crushed.

Last year 40 DNF'd and 16 finished.
This year 22 DNF'd and 44 finished.

[Plugging Along]

I'm guessing that they're on fat bikes?

Yes. I would bet they are all on fat bikes.

These guys get horny talking about bike gear.
http://gearjunkie.com/gear-reviews/biking
http://45nrth.com/chronicles/post/preparing-for-winter-riding
http://salsacycles.com/culture/riding_the_road_with_jay_petervary