Training Log Archive: Anne Fluke

Hawk Ridge w/Sara & Rufus

Started skiing at 6:15am. Donned face mask to avoid frostbite on nose. Beautiful sunrise. Arrived at Blackduck Shelter 8:10, biker was there in his bivy, told him to rise & shine (I guess he'd already decided to drop). Waited for Leah there, turned out she had pretty bad ankle pain and needed to switch to walking. We knew we couldn't make it at walking pace, and thus would have to drop at Melgeorge. I kept skiing, blue sky & sunshine, passed some folks on foot who had slept at Blackduck, arrived checkpoint 12:30 (would have needed to leave by 2pm to continue). Realized right forearm was tender & swollen, which would have ruled out continuing anyway. Leah arrived 2:30pm.

0/6 skiers finished this year, it was not as strong a skier field as last year, although a guy who has skied it successfully dropped this year. He & I were the only 2 to make it halfway within the time limit. 3 skiers dropped btw miles 35 and 50. Leah made it to mile 70, although not within time limit.

Enjoyed the rest of the day lounging with race director Mary, volunteers, other DNF's. Divided up leftover food from drop bags, won't need to buy gels or Perpetuem for a year! Dinner & beer at lodge, drove to finish at Fortune Bay, got some sleep. Spent Wednesday seeing folks finish, including the youngsters from the Naval Academy we'd traveled with on Monday. A finisher who happened to be a doctor said I might have busted a tendon and could need surgery...but that does not appear to be the case. Don't know when I'll be able to use poles again, shouldn't be typing...

Glad I did it, even if only half. Although I said I would never try again, maybe I will...after a break. Next year I plan to volunteer again, and perhaps ski the section I missed between mile 70 and 112, the really tough part.

PS: congrats to Attackpointer Jim Reed who finished on foot! (and last yr on skis). And also to the three guys who have now completed A135 in all three disciplines, including Duluthian Jeremy Kershaw and my personal hero Matt Maxwell.

C • great job .. congratulations 5

Event: Arrowhead 135
 

Left I Falls 7am, about 10 below. Day went well, slightly ahead of schedule at Gateway checkpoint (36 miles/5:30pm). Skied alongside many friendly folks on foot throughout the day. Left checkpoint 6:45, made it to goal of Sheep Ranch Rd. (approx mile 51) after midnight, bivvied next to the trail for about 4 hours. Was just warm enough (got down to at least 25 below), didn't sleep very well b/c nervous about next day—the real test—plus noise from folks talking as they passed us during the night. Reminded self this is why I don't do 24 hr adventure races—I do so poorly w/o sleep. So why did I sign up for this, when not only do you get very little sleep but it's 25 below zero when you get out of your sleeping bag and into your ski boots in the morning? Good question.

Chester Creek w/Sara & Rufus