NC Runner

After completing the Badwater 135 ultra-marathon, I wanted to attempt the Arrowhead 135 winter ultra-marathon. Both races are very similar to one another, yet very different as well. The Arrowhead 135 was founded by Pierre Ostor, a Badwater 135 veteran. Arrowhead is a one hundred and thirty five mile long, a point to point race that is held in the coldest part of the country during the coldest time of the year on the US-Canadian border in International Falls Minnesota, which follows the Arrowhead trail deep into the Minnesota woods crossing several frozen swamps and lakes, eventually finishing at a remote casino in the town of Tower. You have three methods of propulsion as a racer to enter the race, bike, ski, or foot. I chose the foot division. The weather. I knew the obvious, this race is notoriously known for being a brutally cold race with an average finish rate of only 30%, in the week leading up to the race I was finding myself studying the weather forecast more and...

  The Tuscobia Winter Ultra is a self-sufficient winter ultra race held on the Tuscobia State Trail in northern Wisconsin. Participants can choose three different methods of propulsion; run, bike, or ski. There are also two distance options as well; 80 miles or 160 miles.   Growing up in New England, I’ve always been attracted to winter adventures, and recently, the winter ultra scene. Ultra races in general are a different breed of their own, however, winter ultra events are on an entirely different animal. Not only are you required to cover a one-hundred plus mile distance through the snow, (as if this isn’t a challenge in itself), you are to do so by pulling all of your necessary equipment in order to eat, sleep, and survive on a sled, or which racers refer to as a "pulk" for the entire duration of the race. My setup. Harness, pulk, and my old high school hockey bag filled with all necessary survival equipment.   Around a year or so ago Ten ...

Badwater 135, also known as “The world's toughest foot race”. Start in Death Valley National Park at North America's lowest point, Badwater Basin, 282’ below sea level, then travel 135 miles in over 120° heat across three mountain ranges and finish at the Mt. Whitney Portal, 8,360’ above sea level. The coveted Badwater 135 buckle Badwater is a race I’ve wanted to do more than anything for a very long time. Why Badwater? This is a race where you are tested to the extreme mentally, physically, and spiritually, regardless how good your athleticism and mental capacity is. This race will find your flaws and exploit them in exponential fashion. A big reason for this is heat. Death Valley is known for having the hottest recorded temperature on earth, 134°F (in the shade). The 11pm starting wave of the 2018 Badwater 135 Back in February while watching a Facebook live video I heard Chris Kostman (...