{"id":43310,"date":"2019-01-31T15:24:17","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T23:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=43310"},"modified":"2019-02-12T08:54:48","modified_gmt":"2019-02-12T16:54:48","slug":"a-race-through-the-polar-vortex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/a-race-through-the-polar-vortex","title":{"rendered":"A Race Through the Polar Vortex"},"content":{"rendered":"

Early on Monday, Jan. 28, temperatures dipped to <\/span>minus 10<\/span><\/a> in International Falls, Minnesota. Don Gabrielson, a 52-year-old rear admiral Navy officer who lives in Seattle, prepared for the worst by wrapping duct tape around his balaclava to seal out the bitter cold as he prepared to cycle for 135 miles through the Northern Minnesota backcountry in the <\/span>Arrowhead 135<\/span><\/a>, an ultramarathon that traces the <\/span>Arrowhead State Snowmobile Trail<\/span><\/a> in winter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gabrielson joined 145 other competitors preparing to cycle, run, kicksled or ski across a snowy, windblown expanse from International Falls, Minnesota, to the Fortune Bay Casino in Tower. Temperatures during the Arrowhead 135 frequently hover at or below zero degrees, leading members of the ultra community to dub it one of the world\u2019s toughest. Gabrielson knew what he was in for\u2014his last go-round on the course was in 2009. But with a <\/span>polar vortex<\/span><\/a> gripping the Midwest with ice-cold temperatures, this year\u2019s Arrowhead would require even greater heroics than usual. <\/span><\/p>\n

Only a few hours into Gabrielson\u2019s trek, the Arrowhead was living up to its reputation. \u201cMy water bottle had frozen shut,\u201d he said. \u201cI was planning to add more water to drink mixes, but I couldn\u2019t, so in the first half of the race I lost a third of my liquid calories I was counting on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The hiccup slowed his progress as he slogged through the undulating, icy terrain on his fat bike. With each hill, his energy seemed to wane. As the temperatures approached minus 20, Gabrielson persisted, hoping to make it to the first of three checkpoints about 35 miles in, where he could reassess his situation. \u201cI figured out I had forgotten to put [lip balm] around the threads of the cap, which would have stopped it from freezing,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

After eating and regaining some strength, Gabrielson pedaled deeper into the frozen wilderness. With 15 miles left, he noticed his core temperature seemed low and his hands were frigid, despite his thick gloves and pogies. The biting wind, too, had found its way through his face mask. By the time he crossed the finish line around 4am on Tuesday, Jan. 29\u201421 hours after he had begun\u2014parts of his cheeks showed signs of frostnip. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEach decision you make affects something else,\u201d he said. The lack of calories early in the race impacted him every step along the way, he said, though he still managed to finish 15th overall, his third finish and fourth attempt on the course.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are very few people who come to win,\u201d said Ken Krueger, who co-directs the race with his wife, Jackie. \u201cThey are coming to finish.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

To qualify to compete in the Arrowhead 135, athletes must have completed an ultramarathon longer than 100 miles, and winter experience is a plus. Each year, about 15 competitors forgo support, meaning they check in at checkpoints but abstain from the food and water the organizers make available\u2014and even sacrifice time to warm up before pressing on into the icy tundra. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some years, as few as 20 percent of competitors finish. Other years, the number has been as high as 82 percent. This year, there were 52 finishers out of 146, or 36 percent. Krueger attributed this to the extreme weather. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a nervous energy among everyone, mixed with fear,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they come for this. If you get an easy year, they almost feel cheated out of the race. They definitely want a challenge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Traveling 135 miles under one\u2019s own power with minimal stops is grueling, competitors say, but extreme low temperatures add another challenge\u2014maintaining one\u2019s gear is almost impossible as removing gloves can lead to frostbite, and sweating too much can result in life-threatening hypothermia. That\u2019s why the Kruegers require all participants to carry an emergency kit with fuel, a stove and pot (to boil water), matches and a sleeping bag suited to minus 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe only have three checkpoints,\u201d he said. \u201cAt two, there is food and water, and the other there is only water.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteers patrol the trail throughout the three-day event to ensure the safety of the participants. But for much of the time, competitors are trudging through the elements alone, often through dusk with the aid of a headlamp. Racers are expected to finish within 60 hours\u2014those who take longer receive a DNF (Did Not Finish), said Neil Beltchenko, a 31-year-old unsupported bike competitor from Minneapolis. For unsupported competitors, there\u2019s no help\u2014or rest for the weary\u2014at the checkpoints.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to boil your own water, bring your food and from start to finish support yourself through the whole race,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

This was Beltchenko\u2019s second year competing after receiving a DNF in a previous <\/span>2014 attempt<\/span><\/a>. This year, his time of 13 hours and 27 minutes was enough to clinch the fastest unsupported time and second overall. In front of him was Jordan Wakely of Grayling, Michigan, who set a new course record, finishing in just 11 hours and 43 minutes. Beltchenko feels lucky to have finished fast enough to outpace the worst of the cold weather. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYesterday morning we watched someone come in with a minus 45-degree wind chill,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are definitely more hardcore than I am.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Early on Monday, Jan. 28, temperatures dipped to minus 10 in International Falls, Minnesota. Don Gabrielson, a 52-year-old rear admiral Navy officer who lives in Seattle, prepared for the worst by wrapping duct tape around his balaclava to seal out the bitter cold as he prepared to cycle for 135 miles through the Northern Minnesota […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":43311,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,10,11],"tags":[1760,1759,1127,727,1056,240,1376,1758],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-43310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cycle","category-run","category-snowsports","tag-arrowhead-135","tag-cross-country-skiing","tag-cycling","tag-latest-posts","tag-midwest","tag-minnesota","tag-running","tag-ultramarathon"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/a-race-through-the-polar-vortex","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"A Race Through the Polar Vortex","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/a-race-through-the-polar-vortex","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/a-race-through-the-polar-vortex"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/01\/Arrowhead-135_Hero_Scott-Rokis.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/01\/Arrowhead-135_Hero_Scott-Rokis.jpg?fit=2000%2C1333"},"articleSection":"Cycle","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jessica Bernhard"}],"creator":["Jessica Bernhard"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["arrowhead 135","cross-country skiing","cycling","latest posts","midwest","minnesota","running","ultramarathon"],"dateCreated":"2019-01-31T23:24:17Z","datePublished":"2019-01-31T23:24:17Z","dateModified":"2019-02-12T16:54:48Z"},"rendered":"