“Reach out of the darkness…” - Friend & Lover
What makes the ITI “so groovy” is the community around this event. It really is about “people getting together.” (https://youtu.be/RBjQhEME0LQ) That’s what resonated with me as I read recounts of athletes’ experiences and heard how community members from Elim to Nome have rallied around those who are still on the trail. This sense of community is found in something as simple as a Facebook message from Joanne Wassillie inviting her friends in Nome to cheer on the three amazing athletes in the home stretch last night and this morning. And then that sense of togetherness - that “reach[ing]] out of the darkness” - was amplified by learning the mayor of Elim heard our racers couldn't get to Golovin because of the 3+ feet of fresh snow that had fallen, so rode his snowmachine from Elim to the Golovin Bay and back so they had a trail. Frank Amaktoolik Sr. in Golovin has been meeting racers coming off the ice and escorting them to the school. There are a number of reasons why the ITI is just a spectacular event from the landscapes, challenging conditions, our fellow athletes, but for me, what has really made it almost beyond comparison (“almost” because I just compared it to Barkley yesterday and I can’t be a complete hypocrite) are the people in the communities, at the roadhouses, all of the “trail angels” that we get to meet along the way. They “reach out of the darkness” and, as Ryan Wanless commented, even when “you feel like you’re all alone…in truth there are people all over the trail supporting and following your adventure. You are never truly alone. The support is enough to fill one’s heart.”
In that spirit of togetherness, let’s celebrate the three incredible athletes that ended their voyage from Knik to Nome since yesterday’s update.
This morning under swirling rivers of greenish-blue light, Leah Gruhn finished her second ITI 1000 (26 days, 10 hours, 6 minutes) and was the second woman this year to complete the journey on bike. The aurora, however, wasn’t her only escort to the fabled burled arch. Hearkening back to our amazing community, the mayor of Nome must have done a little dot watching of his own (you’re in good company, Mayor Handeland!) because he also accompanied Leah to the finish. Leah reported that “the whole thing was brutally hard and took every last bit of willpower [she] could muster, plus the support and love from MANY.” Once again, congratulations Leah Gruhn! You are an inspiration.
Our winner of the women's foot division, Faye Norby, arrived in Nome after 26 days, 19 hours, and 6 minutes on the trail. Just nine hours after her own finish, Leah Gruhn was out cheering on Faye and her partner, Jeff Leuwerke. Faye is a consummate athlete. She’s been competing in winter races for over ten years, with experience racing Tuscobia, Arrowhead 135, Actif Epica 100 miler, and the ITI 350. What you may not know about Faye is that she is also an epidemiologist. So you won’t be surprised by her answer to the question of “what does the ITI mean to you?” For Faye, the ITI’s connection with the 1925 Serum Run is what made this race so special. For those who don’t know, the Serum Run was an incredible public health story that once again reiterates the power of community.
A century ago there was a diphtheria outbreak on the west coast of Alaska. Curtis Welch, who was the only doctor in the area, put out an urgent request for diphtheria antitoxin after he realized the region’s entire supply of serum had expired. A thousand miles away, there was a stockpile of serum in Anchorage, and a plan to transport it came together. A parcel containing the serum left Anchorage on the Alaska Railroad bound for the small town of Nenana, in central Alaska. From there, a relay made up of 20 mushers and around 150 dogs took over, and using established mail and freight routes, raced the serum westward 674 miles to Nome. These teams braved extreme cold and dangerous conditions to transport the serum in only 5.5 days. The epidemic was halted and lives were saved. For Faye, once she arrived in Ruby on the Yukon River, she followed a similar route to Nome that the serum traveled 99 years ago. And so she was proud to have the privilege of traveling a leg of this same remarkable journey. Congratulations, Faye, for being more stubborn than the weather and the trail and being this year’s women’s foot champion!!
Faye was not alone on her journey. Every step of the way, she traveled with her partner, Jeff Leuwerke. He also is no slouch in the winter ultra realm, finishing the Tuscobia 160 six times, Arrowhead 135 twice, Actif Epica twice and the ITI 350 twice. When asked to share a bit of wisdom when things are looking dark, Jeff said that it’s important to remember that “it’s almost always never going to get worse. More than likely, it’s just time to eat some food, maybe have some caffeine, or take a quick three-minute sled nap.” I’m pretty sure Jeff had to follow that advice a number of times over the last 26-plus days. Congratulations on your amazing finish, Jeff!
There are still six very motivated racers on the trail with less than three days to get to Nome. Sunny reported this morning that the trail had set up well with the temperature drop. Once they reached Golovin, Frank Amaktoolik Sr. made sure they all had breakfast. Hendra Wijaya is currently leading our merry (I may be overly optimistic) conga line of athletes at mile 892 with Joshua Brown not far behind. Sometimes having a bike can be beneficial and today seems to have been one of those days. Hendra reached speeds over 7 mph today crossing Golovin Lagoon and Joshua Brown wasn’t much slower.
Mark Hines, on foot, did not reach a speed of 7 mph today. But he did keep a pace well over 3 mph for a good part of the day. He’s currently resting in White Mountain alone. But not for long. “People are getting together” with Sunny Stroeer, Brandon Lott, and Petr Ineman on their way to join Mark soon. I hope they all get a good rest and enjoy the hospitality of some of the amazing trail angels because they’re going to need it. There’s a winter advisory which goes into effect at 10PM tonight and remains in effect until 4AM on Monday with snow and blowing snow and (blech!) freezing rain possible. Wind gusts as high as 40 mph are expected. Hendra and Josh made the smart move to press on while they could. Equally smart is for our remaining ski and foot athletes to get a good rest (but not “too” good) before they again venture out in the darkness. Hopefully by now they know that they are not alone. They just need to “reach out in the darkness” and they will “find a friend.”
Written by Carole Holley
Photo credential: Cynthia Durand