Day 11: Win, Lose, or Draw
Today was officially the last day of the 350 mile race, the trail has been quiet but the finish line was busy!
We saw our last two women foot finishers, Sunny Stroeer and Gillian Smith who executed clean races and crossed the finish line all by early morning. To finish on any year in any distance is an amazing feat, but if we haven’t mentioned it already, this was quite the year. Congratulations to the rest of the 350 foot field coming in last night: Bryce Williams, Jacob Lankford, Luke Thomas,… and to the 1,000 athletes who made it to McGrath: the intrepid Klaus Schweinberger, Donald Kane, and Daniel Héon.
Around 10AM AK time our red lantern John Clarke crossed the finish line in McGrath. He not only completed the 350-mile race on his rookie year, but this is also his first ever winter ultra (after completing the ITI training camp)! At 60 he says he is “retired, and living my life adventuring with travel and outdoor activities.” Congratulations John, this should fall under the category of “outdoor activities.”
While our 350-mile finishers were enjoying the traditional Man Cakes and no doubt reminiscing with fellow participants about the last 10 days, while sipping coffee under quilts, there is still a 1,000 mile race going on. There had been no movement on the trail until the afternoon when Gavin continued his trek back down towards McGrath as did Takao Kitada. When hearing rumors of the trail conditions the words “impassable” and “impossible” come up. The other subject is the “trail math” conversation which is bad for any mode, but particularly crushing for the foot division. With no trail set in, and a large amount of snowfall north up the trail, rumors of 45 and 50 miles average per day needed to complete the race in the allotted 30 days feels crushing.
When will movement happen? Any foot racers wanting to continue cannot wait for the trail breakers, who traditionally only come up two days before the lead dog team, as every minute they are stopped increases that daily mileage. Even though snow shoeing through thigh deep snow for hours and hours probably feels fruitless, some forward motion would need to happen. Easier said than done, slower pace through deep snow means more calories exerted, which leads to more calories needed to keep said pace, which then leads to heavier sleds, compounding the situation, a 3 or 4 day crossing becomes 8 or 10.
What about our bike division? If the trail breakers come through next week and it is passable, the bikes could potentially cross the Interior to the Yukon and gain some time back, the need for a good trail will be there all the way to Nome, as well as the necessity of being self sufficient and responsible, but it could be possible.
The difference between modes has never felt more acute, moving on the bike and walking, where a mere one and two miles per hour more can give you a fighting chance or end your race. Right now we all wait, they wait on the dream of a snowmachine, we wait on them to choose.
Push through together with the cutoff looming? Go alone, or go home?
We can’t end a recap like that! Last night was the first half of our beautiful thank you list from all of the participants, below is the rest. If you are feeling gloomy, I encourage you to read through it. Win, lose, or draw it is a really big deal to start this race and a LOT has to go right just to get here. So cheers to friends and family, coworkers and pets, to those who had to listen for a year about counting calories, layering systems, and base weight. This one's for you!
Written by Kari Gibbons
Photo of Mayella Krause and Gillian Smith. Photo credit: Mayella Krause
A thank you from the participants:
Meg Inokuma: I’d like to thank all my experienced friends for sharing their experience on the trail, either as a part of the ITI or their individual trips.
Michael Overbeck Cook: My wife, Giant-Norway, DerUte, Intersport, IK Hero, Backe, Deler AS, and My Mom
Mike Braniff: Coach Janice Tower for sure!
Mitch Dulleck: I would say Mammut, even though they are not a sponsor, they make Great Quality outdoor Gear! And thanks to Lynn and Amanda (tou guys know them both) showing me the way to McGrath! And my Family for their support!
Natalie Taylor: My training buddies for getting me out in the wet uk weather this winter
Nick Janssen: Beaver Sports, Fairbanks, AK!
Nick Legan: Thank you to Kristen Legan of Rambleur Coaching (also my wife), Jay Petervary, and Shimano (best in the biz).
Patrick McDermott: Taylor my wife
Petra Davis: Yes!! To my family for their unwavering support throughout my life and this event, and borrowed gear. To my coach Janice Tower who has made me feel the most physically and mentally prepared I could be, also using her handlebar bag. To Tony Allen for multiple pieces of borrowed gear. To my boyfriend/assigned nutritionist for fueling cookies on training rides and ITI drop essentials and everything else. To everyone that has offered me advice and insights I so appreciate it especially Casey and Taz. Generally, I am so fortunate to be in a community that has supported and joined in my efforts not just for the ITI but throughout my life, may be solo on the trail but definitely a collective effort to get me to McGrath, I will be thinking of all my people on the bike.
Scott Pariseau: My Family and friends who have all supported me along the way.
Suman Baddam: Giti, Alex, friends and family
Suzanne Stroeer: LOWA
Tomas Vajdiak: My wife Martina. Family and friends. My colleagues to back me up while I am in Alaska.
Tristan Carlson: My girlfriend, Harley. She's been incredibly supportive of me the whole time and it's clear she's proud of me for doing this.
Vinny Mullin: KLM Gear -- my wife makes me new gear every year, including a beautiful new XPac sled bag with a U-zip and water bottle pockets
Zach Anderson: My family is sacrificing a lot and banding together to allow me to be here. I can’t thank them enough. Now Bikes in Arden hills was also a huge player. Great people.
Thanks to Wild Winter Women - Allison Carolan, Amanda Harvey, Faye Norby, Jan Redmond Walker, Jessica Roschlan,Leah Gruhn, Laura Wiesmann Hrubes, Lynn K Hall, Madeline Harms, Rashelle Hintz, Rebecca McVay-Brodersen, and Sarah Bergstrom.