PHOTO FINISH

Fine competition and a lot of folks busting thru 2012 Arrowhead Challenge! 

                                   69 YRS YOUNG! 

FYI: Arrowhead Mascot Baby Lilly Adopted by way loving family last week!

Proving an extraordinary strong field Ultra-Winter Racers, 2012 Arrowhead 135 supplied Lots o' Records despite rather soft course conditions mild "snizzely"(snow and drizzle) weather.  WeeHaw!

Numerous "fastest" were broken including: Fastest Skier Ever the Minnesota/Wisconsin NorthLands CASEY KRUEGER breaking old ski record by astounding 14 hrs. 

Fastest Woman Biker Ever Colorado's ESZTER HORANYI  by a couple hours at 18+hrs!

Fastest Man Runner Duluth's Sir JASON BUFFINGTON by 45 minutes in 37hrs and change.  

Most Skiers ever to finish...Seven, almost equaling total amount in 8 previous races put together.

Oldest Finisher ever...Erwin Berglund finishing strong on da bike at 69yrs old!  Holy Moley!

Closest Exciting Bike Finish Ever Alaskans BREITENBACH and BERNTSON: about a tire width.  Previous BasingerOatleyPramann 2010 finish was a tire width and a half.  

Most Finishers Ever at 81.  Highest Percentage Ever at ~75%. Mild conditions provided tough going in spots but allowed folks to "Tough It Out", and finish. 

Fine Volunteers Everywhere, Great sponsors and local Hosts at Nations IceBox I-Falls/Gateway Store/MelGeorge Resort/Ski-Pulk and Fortune Bay provided a Home Run for racers.

Arrowhead 135 Inc. donated ~150lbs Food to  nice I-Falls Foodshelf and while we figure out da bills, should be $+5000 to Spec Ops Warrior Foundation Charity and Local Snowmobile Clubs for THANKS using the nice Arrowhead Trail!  Cool.

Thanks to everyone who came out to run, bike, ski, cheer, volunteer, provide beer, etc., at the 2012 Arrowhead 135.

I'll let Dave n Mary add their thoughts once they a chance to return home and find a computer to use but I wanted to say that this was quite an experience.  I didn't know I could be (mostly) functional and (not too) cranky on only a couple of hours of sleep for 3 days.  I've participated in a number of ultra-type events but never as a volunteer.  I think volunteering is a bit more exciting...

I started a galleries article with links to some initial photo galleries.  Go to the Galleries menu to see the 2012 Galleries.  I'll add more as I hear of them.

-- Russ (the web, Facebook, results guy)

LAST UPDATE 20:00.  All competitors have finished!  All within time limit!  Corrado Buzzolan earns the Shackleton Expedition Award for the most time on the course.

I need a nap.

Update 2/1 15:00.  Ten runners left on course...

Update 2/1 11:05.  Everyone (who could) has made it through the final checkpoint.  A few more runners dropped and a few more finished.  The final checkpoint is also now closed.  The campfire at the finish is delightful...

Update 2/1 08:49.  Busy morning at final checkpoint - Ski Pulk.  Another dozen runners traveled through.  A couple of more finishers, as well.  It should get busy here at the finish sooooon.

Update 2/1 05:36.  Busy night at the final checkpoint - Ski Pulk.  Or as a few grizzled race veterans say - the Tepee of Despair... A dozen runners n skiers traveled through that checkpoint overnight.  The finish line should get busy soooon.

Update 2/1 05:07.  A quiet night at the finish line (and 3 hours of sleep).  Just a few finishers, but now the runners have arrived.  4 have finished.  Should be a busy morning.

Update 1/31 20:36.  1st runner to finish!  New course record?!?  Yes, confirmed!

Update 1/31 16:12.  Updates from Mary at MelGeorge complete.  Go to Results page.  Runners on their way!

Update 1/31 14:43.  Lots of finishers recorded.  First runner through last checkpoint!  Also MelGeorge checkpoint has closed.  I'll get updates from Mary soooon.

Update 1/31 11:23.  Up from a short nap...  Lots of activity.  Competitors are up and moving!  Lots of new updates posted on the Results page.  There's even some sun in the sky...

Update 1/31 05:54.  Casey Krueger 1st skier.  22:05.  15th overall. Broke previous men's skier record by 14+ hours.   Double wow!

Update 1/31 03:52.  Back awake...  Eszter Horanyi 1st woman in at 12:18 this morning.  9th overall.  Broke previous women's record by almost 2 hrs.  Wow!

Update 1/30 23:11.  Kevin Breitenbach inches out Tim Berntson by a wheel width!  Pictures forthcoming.

Update 1/30 21:23.  7 riders have passed through Ski Pulk tent checkpoint.  1 skier passed through MelGeorge.  Results page has all the details. Time for me to get outside and watch for the leaders finishing at Fortune Bay!

Update 1/30 19:53.  3 leaders have entered and exited the last checkpoint (Ski Pulk tent).  Check the Results page.

Update 1/30 17:25.  About a dozen cyclists have entered and exited MelGeorge's Resort checkpoint.  I heard runners are starting to arrive at Gateway Store checkpoint.  The MelGeorge times for have been updated on the Results page.  Still waiting to hear updates from 3 pm from Gateway....

Update 1/30. 14:42.  I'm about to take off for the finish - Fortune Bay.  I'll be offline for an hour or so.

Update 1/30 14:11.  Only a dozen riders left to arrive at Gateway.  Only 6 skiers left to arrive.  No runners, yet....

Update 1/30 13:20 PM.  More skiers arrived at Gateway.  A few have departed.  Still waiting on first runners.

Update 1/30 12:15 PM.  First skier made it to the Gateway Store checkpoint at 11:31.  Wow!  Check the Results page.

Update: 1/30 10:55 AM.  Bike leaders through Gateway checkpoint around 10:25.  Results page updated.

And they're off!  A balmy 10 deg this morning at International Falls. 

Check back here throughout the day for updates.  The Results page will also include racers' times as they enter and leave checkpoints.

Here are the bikers starting at 7 AM.