2019 Tuscobia 80 Winter Ultra - The Cold Rains Will Come
"I'd keep playing. I don't think the heavy stuff's going to come down for quite a while."
- Carl Spackler (played by Bill Murray) in Caddyshack
It was a sentiment I shared with fellow racers along the 80 mile Tuscobia trail in Northern Wisconsin on the night of December 28th as freezing rain poured down on us. I was on a 30+ mile stretch of trail between the Ojibwa checkpoint and the Town of Birchwood which would have the next open business, a gas station. The ice storm had shutdown the roads including the few businesses that the trail passes. The realization that I was essentially in the middle of nowhere in a freezing rain storm and no one to help me except myself put the situation in perspective. I tried not to think about this, all I had to do was keep putting one foot in front of the other to stay warm and get to the Town of Birchwood.
The Tuscobia Winter Ultra is presented on its website as.....
- Carl Spackler (played by Bill Murray) in Caddyshack
It was a sentiment I shared with fellow racers along the 80 mile Tuscobia trail in Northern Wisconsin on the night of December 28th as freezing rain poured down on us. I was on a 30+ mile stretch of trail between the Ojibwa checkpoint and the Town of Birchwood which would have the next open business, a gas station. The ice storm had shutdown the roads including the few businesses that the trail passes. The realization that I was essentially in the middle of nowhere in a freezing rain storm and no one to help me except myself put the situation in perspective. I tried not to think about this, all I had to do was keep putting one foot in front of the other to stay warm and get to the Town of Birchwood.
The Tuscobia Winter Ultra is presented on its website as.....
...a human powered run, bike or ski event held on the Tuscobia and Wild Rivers State Trails in Northern Wisconsin, in the middle of winter.
There are two options: an 80-mile one-way route or a 160-mile out and back. The 160-mile requires completion of a qualifying event, and is itself a qualifier for the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 miler (Alaska).
Both distances have required gear and are semi-supported, with organized checkpoints. No outside help is allowed from family, friends, or random strangers. Patronizing local businesses is encouraged: this means buying a soda or a burger, while taking a break.
The Why
I don't recall how I first heard about Winter Ultras even having grown up in Northern Minnesota, they were completely off my radar until less than two years ago. I have snowmobiled multiple times the Arrowhead 135 course from International Falls to Tower, Minnesota and still don't comprehend how people race that trail by human power. The longer you are in the sport of Ultras, the more unique and crazy events you learn about. They plant a seed in your mind until you are ready to take the first step and let that seed grow. I continued to hear the crew on Ten Junk Miles podcast talk about winter ultras, especially Tuscobia and what a great and unique event it was. As someone from Northern Minnesota who loves cold weather and ultra running, this seemed like a logical next step. A good family friend Bryan Sampson has been doing these events for many years on his Salsa fat tire bike so I reached out to him in early 2019 to start learning what I could. On August 1st, 2019 I hit the register button on UltraSignup for the Tuscobia 80. At this point I had none of the gear required but was motivated to get to that start line in late December.
"I like crazy people, especially those who don't see the risk" - John Lydon, (British songwriter, musician, and former lead singer of Sex Pistols)
The Preparation
After registration in August, I let Tuscobia slip from my mind as I focused on Superior 100 in just a few short weeks. Superior took a lot out of me mentally and physically and I didn't do much running or race planning until well into October. We had above average temperatures this Fall in the South with many days reaching into the 90's, I couldn't even think about cold weather during that time. Training in South Carolina produced many of its only challenges with the largest being inability to test gear in actual winter conditions. Slowly though I started to put together a gear list, read blogs, watch YouTube videos, and bounce ideas off Bryan. I was reading a blog from the 2018 Tuscobia 160 and realized it was someone who lived just nearby in Statesville, NC. I reached out to Chris Moroch and got to meet him at Grindstone 100 in October which he crushed even after getting off course overnight. I got more training advice from him and how to prepare living in a place without snow or cold. Chris is going to tackle the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 miler in Alaska later this Winter. He completed Tuscobia 160 miler in under 60 hours this past year.
I began to order gear for Tuscobia with the help of Chris. He had great recommendations on renting gear to help keep expenses down for my first event. I also reached out to race directors Chris and Helen Scotch who were extremely friendly and open with tips. They would send me long emails making sure I was best setup for success come late December. I can't thank Bryan, Chris, Chris, and Helen enough, without them I wouldn't have had such a smooth transition to the start line and I know I wouldn't have finished. (Note: I have a gear list at the end of this blog for those interested) As a rookie I knew I would have a lot of lessons to learn, especially over the wide range of possible weather and trail conditions.
The Trip
Starting in late October Northern Wisconsin began to get snow and was blessed with great snowfall amounts through November and into early December. Cold temperatures in mid-December helped firm up the trails and freeze any of the water through swampy areas. The locals checked the trails and sent updates through Facebook, it looked like things were setting up nicely!
The 14-day forecast came out and it looked like it would be a warmer year with temperatures in the 20's. This type of forecast makes for a slower going in soft snow due to the loose footing and increased drag on the sled. At this point I had been mentally prepared for -20 temperatures but thought I was being thrown an easier year regarding weather.
We spent Christmas at home with the kids so Santa could come and the excitement of waking up to see what was under our tree. It was an early morning but we hit the road at 5:30 am on Christmas Day for Chicago. Clear weather and empty roads made for a quick trip to Chicago in under 12 hours. We arrived to Chicago for the 2nd warmest Christmas on record since 1871, a balmy 56 degrees. Temperatures in the Midwest were climbing with a rise in the jet stream that continued pushing further North. The Tuscobia weather forecast also began to shift from snow to freezing sleet and rain in a weekend storm. We spent the morning after Christmas in Chicago with t-shirts on and temperatures hitting 65, this was really getting hard to believe. Off to Madison to spend time with Anne's sister and her family. We had a great visit with them and the kids got to see Grandma Kathy. Anne, her sister Liz, and I hit up Working Draft Brewery in Madison to start my hydration for the weekend!
The next morning the forecast showed heavy rains for Saturday afternoon and night so it was time for last minute gear adjustments. I went to Cabela's on my way out of town for some good waterproof layers and various glove selections. Why was I buying a rain poncho for a winter ultra, sigh!?
I drove the 3-1/2 hours North to Rice Lake, Wisconsin while mentally preparing myself for the race. Gear check started at 2pm that afternoon. During gear check you lay your required gear out on a table for inspection. After all the items are confirmed you receive your race bib.
Required Gear List for Tuscobia
The next morning the forecast showed heavy rains for Saturday afternoon and night so it was time for last minute gear adjustments. I went to Cabela's on my way out of town for some good waterproof layers and various glove selections. Why was I buying a rain poncho for a winter ultra, sigh!?
I drove the 3-1/2 hours North to Rice Lake, Wisconsin while mentally preparing myself for the race. Gear check started at 2pm that afternoon. During gear check you lay your required gear out on a table for inspection. After all the items are confirmed you receive your race bib.
Required Gear List for Tuscobia
- 0 degree or lower rated sleeping bag
- Emergency bivy (it's like a small cocoon that goes over your sleeping bag to keep you dry)
- Sleeping pad
- 3 flashing red lights with spare batteries (there are specifics on lumens for this)
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Reflective vest or similar to be worn (Tuscobia is a multi-use trail with snowmobile traffic so visibility is a huge priority)
- $30 cash (in case you lose a red light and need to buy one from a race official, the DNR permit requires these so racers can be seen by snowmobiles and vehicles at road crossings)
After getting my bib I checked into the Hotel and resorted all my gear. I knew at this point I was carrying too much stuff but I really didn't know exactly what I might require at the various points through the race, remember it's mostly self supported.
I headed out the door to meet my uncle Jon with his kids Bennett, Ava, & Ellyn for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. It was great to see them all, it had probably been almost 4 years since seeing them. It was great to catch up and share some laughs and was a major highlight of the trip. I was glad we could all enjoy some dinner together before they headed for their curling match that night.
After dinner it was back to the KC Hall in Rice Lake for the 7 pm race meeting. I caught up with Bryan and we shared good conversation about Winter Ultras before the race briefing. I should mention at this point I had ordered my waist belt, pull rope, and waterproof gaiters from Roberto at RM Gear. December seemed to be the month of shipping delays for him as he got everyone the gear they needed for the season. He had promised to bring it with him to the event and I was getting anxious. Without it I would have no way to pull my sled and envisioned being at Wal-Mart later that night rigging something up. Roberto was nowhere to be seen.
The meeting went on with a full room of racers. Race Directors Chris and Helen Scotch laid out the rules and history of the race. Awards for 5-time finishers were handed out followed by a huge giveaway of swag donated by sponsors.
The meeting wrapped up by 8 pm but I hung around waiting for Alberto to show up with my gear, word was he would be in town at 8:30pm. I sat with another racer who was waiting for his new custom duffel bag from RM Gear. We joked around with Chris and Helen as they received updates on 160 mile runners who had been on the course since 6 am. In the world of ultra running I have met some of the kindest people, but that goes a step further in Winter Ultras. When you are literally battling the worst that Winter can throw at you in the middle of nowhere, you have to sometimes rely on help from others and you certainly need to listen from experienced racers or you could put yourself in a life-threatening situation.
Before too long Chris and Helen had run and gotten their own gear to borrow us. Helen got me her waistbelt and custom bungee pull rope that she has used to finish Arrowhead 135 an impressive 6 times! I couldn't believe she was going to let essentially some stranger use her personal gear for an 80 miler the next day, I was so appreciative and told her I would bring it back tomorrow either after the race or before if my gear showed up in time. Chris gave out a duffel bag to the other racer to use. Roberto finally sent me an email at 3 am that night saying he dropped the gear at the KC Hall for pickup in the morning. I was able to return Helen her gear before the race and thanked her again. I headed back to the hotel and caught up with Bryan as we were sharing a room that night. We talked more about gear and he borrowed me one of his own rain jackets with the pending forecast of doom, again I was super appreciative and in awe of how kind everyone in this sport is. It was off to bed as the 160 miler runners and skiers battled night one on the course.
We loaded on the buses at 6:30 am for a 6:45 departure. It was about a 2 hour ride to Park Falls where the race would start and would give us plenty of time to prepare our gear before the 10 am start. It was a nice 25 degrees out that morning but clouds filled the sky and it was only a matter of time before the storm rolled in. Bryan and I talked more about life and Winter Ultras on the bus ride. I had a couple of bananas I ate along the way with my coffee and just tried to relax, it was going to be a long day!
We arrived to Park Falls and my first order of business was to hit the bathroom after all the coffee, 2 buses of racers can create long lines! The start was at Park Falls City Hall which they graciously opened to us. Volunteers were there with coffee, cookies, and muffins for us. They lined the entry and hallway with chairs for racers to have a seat and stay warm before the race start. After the bathroom line I went out and waited for my sled at the semi. I got it loaded out for final last adjustments and made sure all my lights were working including a set of battery powered Christmas lights that Hazel picked out for me at the dollar store. I then stayed warm inside until about 15 minutes before the start.
I hit the trail mid-pack of the 61 race startes in the 80 mile foot division. The temps overnight setup the snow nicely in this section and it was very easy pulling the sled. The first 5 miles I did a run/walk passing others and maintaining a good 12-13 minute/mile pace. Everything was going great and it was just how long would it hold before weather moved in and trail conditions deteriorated. Mile 5 a very light freezing drizzle start but it was barley enough to wet the outer layer of my gear. We still moved along nicely. I ate my muffin from Kwik Trip at the one hour mark and everything was clicking. At mile 8 the drizzle turned to a freezing rain. With temps still in the 20's the rain quickly froze to everything. At one point even the zipper on my front pouch was frozen shut. I had packed all my gear in dry bags and things like my phone and GoPro in plastic zip lock bags. I was confident all my gear would stay dry but it was a matter of how many layer changes and would I stay warm enough with rain soaking through. By mile 10 the rain had already started to degrade the trail and make pulling the sled harder.
For nutrition I was using Tailwind drink mix in a hydration bladder that I sipped on. At mile 12 I stopped and refilled the bladder from the hydroflasks along with some Pringles and nut mix . Most of the food I was eating to this point was Reese's Cups, Nutty Bars, and Gu blocks that I had stored in a front pouch attached to my waist belt (sugar & chocolate!). The rain complicated eating with the inability to keep things readily available and dry. I learned new skills for unwrapping things with gloves during the day although my dentist probably wouldn't approve.
Helen had said during the final briefing at race start that a groomer had gone over the trails near Lorretta/Draper early this morning. A groomer will cut the top layer of snow and then repack it smooth. The smooth layer needs time and cold temps to setup otherwise it just becomes a soft layer of snow that is easily torn up. This section was one of the toughest to go over as the rains quickly softened the top 4-6" layer and it was like walking in beach sand while pulling a sled. The footing was bad and it was just tough to get any momentum going. The leaders of the 160 mile bike race were passing us and even they were having a hard time with it. It would continue like this all the way to Loretta/Draper and then just beyond it. By the time I got into Lorretta/Draper the rain had lightened up and a wind picked up out of the East. I was glad to be about 25% into the race and was gaining some confidence.
It was tough going and I was only able to maintain a 20 minute/mile pace from Loretta to Ojibwa. Darkness came early with a 4:28 pm sunset and the storm clouds. I had my headlamp on by 4:15 and it would be like that for the next 15 hours.
I came across a few 160 milers in this stretch and would walk with them for about 10 minutes to hear about their long trip thus far and how they were doing. I felt lucky to only be in the 80 miler with these conditions. A large amount of 160 milers dropped at the 1/2 way checkpoint in Park Falls as they looked at the storm they would have to face. I give all of them credit, I would have done the same and to those who continued on, wow!
It was complete darkness as I went through the town of Winter. A couple sleds and bikes sat outside a bar & grill but being close to the checkpoint I kept moving on. At this point I hadn't been having much fun 6 hours in and the rains just kept coming in waves. I tried to stay positive with the short term goal of making Ojibwa in mind. I got in line behind a couple other sleds and we made the turn to Ojibwa which is down a short 1/2 mile spur trail. I found it odd that other than a couple of small marking flags, there was no sign directing you to Ojibwa. As I would find out later, there were others who would miss this turn. A sign with a light had either gotten knocked down or moved at the time I came through, luckily I was with some veterans who knew the turn and I followed them.
Up until this point I had been on trail and the affects of the storm were only limited to my small world on the trail and its condition. We got to the road and parking lot to find a 1/4" sheet of ice. The vehicles parked there were a solid ice and it was very hard to stay upright. I slipped around and made my way very slowly to the outside of the checkpoint. A couple of wonderful volunteers gave us a big greeting and quickly asked what they could do to help. I parked my sled and grabbed a change of layers and my water bottles from my bag to head inside.
Ojibwa checkpoint is an old stone building with open windows and a couple of fireplaces inside. It is a small building and they tarp the window openings to keep the heat inside. A volunteer took my number and tab from my race bib to note I had arrived. Another volunteer helped me find a seat as it was busy inside and then took my water bottles to refill. I can't say enough about the group of volunteers here, they were completely focused on the racers and went above and beyond what is expected at an aid station.
The volunteers asked if I needed anything to be dried by the fire and I gave them a set of gloves I would use as a backup. I changed into my dry jacket from Bryan and then put a thin Columbia rain jacket on over. With temps now in the low 30's I felt these gave me my best shot to stay dry and warm overnight. The rain paints continued to work wonders so I kept them on but changed socks. My feet were soaked and already showing signs of blistering. Not much I could do other than dry them for a minute and put dry socks back on. I knew my feet would get wrecked but such is the case in any long distance ultra. I ate a cup of chicken noodle soup, a hot grilled cheese (mmm), and some of my beef jerky. I also restocked my food pouch for the next few hours and got ready to go again.
I got a quick weather update which didn't look good. The next stretch normally has a couple towns with open businesses but the ice storm had closed roads earlier in the evening. I knew I would have to make the run for 30 miles to mile 64 and the town of Birchwood before I would get any type of shelter or assistance. A little bit of fear began to set in as I put myself in danger being inexperienced and exposed to the worst of the storm overnight. This was truly where you only had yourself and other racers to rely on. I also lacked any confidence in setting up my emergency bivy and sleeping bag in the rain, not a good combination. Sometimes ignorance is bliss and I decided to continue on. Besides, dropping here did not mean shelter, due to the roads I would have had to go bivy outside overnight until the roads improved on Sunday.
I had arrived to Ojibwa at 7:38 pm and didn't want to stay too long. I packed up my sled, hit the bathroom, then went in to fill my last hydroflask of hot chocolate and coffee mix with hot water. They have an awesome selection of cold, warm, or hot water to fill up with and is unique to Winter Ultra needs. As I waited to fill my bottle one of the volunteers offered me a shot of Fireball whiskey for the road, why not and I took one back. Whatever I was doing seemed so crazy that why not add a shot to the mix. I checked out and told them thank you and I was heading back on trail. In a Winter Ultra it is important to always check in and check out so every racer is accounted for over this long trail. If you drop out, always let them know right away so you are not part of a rescue search the next day.
Show up and suffer was my mantra for this race, Anne had even gotten me the hat from Bill Bradley as a Christmas gift. I repeated the saying over and over in my head. I had stopped having fun a long time ago in this race and now it was purely mental on how far I could push myself.
I left Ojibwa at 8:20 pm, a long break of 42 minutes but felt good with some real food in my stomach. I made my way across the icy road to the spur trail and then a hard right back on the Tuscobia trail. I was just behind a 160 miler and hung with him for a while. He was making a good pace and I felt more comfortable with someone. 3.5 miles later came race director Chris Scotch on snowmobile checking on racers. He stopped and talked with us for a couple minutes making sure we were in good shape. He said that one of the racers missed the Ojibwa checkpoint by almost 5 miles and was making his way back to it! At this point I went to check my map/mileage chart in my vest but it wasn't there. I apparently dropped it at Ojibwa so all I knew was that Birchwood was somewhere around mile 62-64 and the finish at mile 80.
We made our way ahead and eventually saw the racer who missed the checkpoint. The 160 miler mentioned that the guy is 68 years old and one tough racer who would go hit the checkpoint and finish. I did see him the next day at the finish! The 160 miler and myself both agreed we would have dropped rather than add an extra 10 miles in these miserable conditions. Shortly after the 160 miler stopped to change some gear and I kept moving ahead.
By the time I got to the town of Radisson (mile 39.5) it was a complete downpour of cold rain. At this point I was starting to question my sanity along with my skill level to be out in these conditions. Everything on me was soaked and I noticed my sled had taken on so much rain I had to tip it over and dump it out of at least 3 or more gallons of water. The road crossings were pure ice and I couldn't find a single car on the road or open business in town. As I cruised through town I saw lights in many homes and people watching the College Football playoff game of Clemson vs Ohio State. Why was I out here in the pouring rain being miserable? Again if I knew someone in Radisson, I would have quit. There is a community pavilion in the center of Radisson just off the trail and several racers were taking cover and talking. I thought about stopping but knew I would get chilled quickly and really what was the point of getting out of the rain, it was foretasted to downpour for another 7 hours at least!
I went ahead moving fast enough to stay warm but slow enough to keep from twisting my ankles in the slush and snow that was now the trail. Eating solid foods was also becoming a chore in the wet conditions. Gloves were completely soaked and opening any package immediately exposed it to rain. I continued eating small things and taking in proper fluids but over the next few hours I went calorie deficient.
Next up was the town of Couderay (mile 44.5) which I got to in the early morning hours. Lights were now off in all the homes as people slept. It was here I paired up with another 80 mile runner and we decided it was best to stick together to Birchwood at mile 64. The conditions were heavy rain, temps around 35 degrees, and the trail was getting worse with each passing mile. We struggled to maintain a speed of 3 mph and would take a break every mile for a quick bite and drink of fluids. We crossed farm pastures, railroad tracks, county roads, and eventually got up onto this ridgeline around mile 54. The winds from the east had really picked up and I was told later gusts went up to 30 mph, luckily at our backs. We saw race director Chris Scotch on snowmobile again at this same time. I asked him what my options were if I dropped at Birchwood. He said you can't drop at Birchwood as there is only 16 miles left to finish from there. I laughed and said I still had a marathon left to the finish and it was miserable out. He gave me a big vote of confidence and said to just keep moving forward and I'd get the finish I was looking for. It helped and I knew if I made it to Birchwood, that yes I could go on from there.
B.J. and I moved on and just kept moving ahead. It was in the early morning hours and we both were getting tired and aggravated by the conditions. The closer we got to Birchwood the further it seemed away and the less we spoke. We had originally thought we could get to Ed's Pit Stop gas station in Birchwood at 6-6:15 am. 6:00 am came and went and we still had not hit city limits. Finally at 7 am we were in city limits and by 7:15 as dawn began to break we arrived at Ed's Pit Stop. We saw the first vehicles in a long time on the roads and a plow truck out sanding and salting the roads. The main road was very slick as we crossed and the parking lot was more of a skating rink. There it was though, an open and warm gas station to go inside! I had never been more relieved, thankful, or excited to see a gas station with real people!!!!!
Ed's Pit Stop is a nice gas station with hot food and an area to sit with tables. I pulled my sled up next to B.J.'s and a couple of kick sleds, a fat tire bike, and went inside. The kick sled guys looked like the night took its toll and they were both dropping, just waiting on a ride. I took off my gear and went for food. I got a bacon, egg, & cheese croissant, Pearson's salted nut roll, and big bottle of water. All racers also got a free hot chocolate or coffee and I went straight for the sugar with a hot chocolate. I also picked up a set of dry waterproof gloves as most of my other ones were soaked through.
I sat there just enjoying the warm and dry place to sit and eat. You can't possibly understand what simple modern conveniences feel like after spending a night outside like we just had. I filled up on food and fluids and relaxed. I began packing my gear back up and getting ready to hit the road again, racers continued coming in and none leaving too quickly. Chris Scotch pulled up on snowmobile again bringing a racer from the trail who dropped before making it to Birchwood. He asked me if I was headed back out and I gave him a smile that I was. My legs were trashed from pulling the sled through slush all night but it was time to move on.
The next few miles were probably the worse sections of trail in terms of how hard the rain hit them. Leaving town the trail runs through the ditches which were filled with runoff water from the highway. For two miles the trail runs up and down several hills as it joins in with the 1200 mile Ice Age Trail. I stayed with B.J. for this section but he was hiking stronger than me this morning and he went on.
The trail flattens out quickly after those two miles and passes by one farm field after the next heading to Rice Lake. The pattern was to walk a mile, cross a road, walk a mile, cross a road, and so on. The rains had quit since Birchwood with only the occasional burst of freezing drizzle that might only last 10-15 minutes. It was welcome after the long night of pouring rain and was more manageable to keep gloves dry. I was also able to shed my hood and stay cooler when hiking.
I had passed Mile 70 and could sense the finish line even though my legs were in a lot of pain. As I came up to one of the road crossings I saw a gentlemen alongside the trail as racers came by slowly. Once I got close enough I realized it was my Uncle Jon!! I headed up to the road and by the time I got there my cousins Ellyn and Ava were there with one of Ava's friends. I updated them on everything from the last 25 hours of racing and weather overnight. They couldn't believe I kept with it through the tough conditions. We talked for over 10 minutes and I began to get really chilled so it was time to move again. As we stood there a light freezing rain fell as was only appropriate for this race in 2019. It really did mean a lot to me to have them come out and support me.
Jon and my cousins were able to watch my progress via live tracking and knew when I was getting close to road crossings. Ultra-running in most aspects is a very selfish thing I do. There are the countless hours spent training and being away from Anne and the kids including on this Holiday weekend after Christmas. I try to keep this in mind and limit any inconveniences to others while I do this crazy sport, but having my uncle and cousins come out to stand along a highway in freezing rain on a Sunday morning meant a lot to me and I am grateful for the support my family and friends give.
After saying goodbye to my uncle and cousins I continued on the trail having a nice boost of energy. It was late morning Sunday and I had already been out here longer than anticipated, it was time to finish this. I had 5 more miles to reach the end of the Tuscobia Trail and then take a connector trail for 4 miles into Rice Lake and the finish line. I wasn't moving very quickly but maintaining a steady pace and stopping every mile for a short break that included a drink of Tailwind and a snack. The miles clicked off albeit slowly. Imagine being used to driving to work everyday at 60 mph but all of a sudden your car could only go 15 mph. Things come to a crawl and mile markers seemed to never come. This was essentially the end of my Tuscobia 80, the miles clicked off painfully slow but I just couldn't move much faster, and really what was the difference in 15-30 minutes in the overall finish at this time anyways? At mile 76 I reached the end of the Tuscobia Trail and crossed County Road SS making the hard left onto Wild Rivers Trail.
Shortly after taking these pictures and making the turn South the rains came again. It rained heavy for almost an hour as I trudged towards the finish. If anything was certain at Tuscobia 2019, it was that miles were not to be run in dry conditions. All I could do was put my head down and push ahead. A couple of 160 mile bikers passed me here along with a couple runners who still had legs left to run the last section in. At one point I even pulled out my phone and used Google Maps to tell me how much longer to the KC Hall, excellent only a 1/2 mile left! It went by and as I neared the KC Hall pavilion and finish line sign, Helen Scotch made her way out with cowbell in hand to congratulate me. She took my picture under the finish and I went inside to receive my finisher's hat. It was nice to be out of the rain and able to sit down. I talked with some of the other racers about what just happened the last 29 hours. I had left on a bus 32 hours earlier and just experienced a bunch of crazy weather to get back to this same spot!
I headed out the door to meet my uncle Jon with his kids Bennett, Ava, & Ellyn for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. It was great to see them all, it had probably been almost 4 years since seeing them. It was great to catch up and share some laughs and was a major highlight of the trip. I was glad we could all enjoy some dinner together before they headed for their curling match that night.
After dinner it was back to the KC Hall in Rice Lake for the 7 pm race meeting. I caught up with Bryan and we shared good conversation about Winter Ultras before the race briefing. I should mention at this point I had ordered my waist belt, pull rope, and waterproof gaiters from Roberto at RM Gear. December seemed to be the month of shipping delays for him as he got everyone the gear they needed for the season. He had promised to bring it with him to the event and I was getting anxious. Without it I would have no way to pull my sled and envisioned being at Wal-Mart later that night rigging something up. Roberto was nowhere to be seen.
The meeting went on with a full room of racers. Race Directors Chris and Helen Scotch laid out the rules and history of the race. Awards for 5-time finishers were handed out followed by a huge giveaway of swag donated by sponsors.
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| Pre-race meeting Photo courtesy of Amy Broadmoore Photography |
The meeting wrapped up by 8 pm but I hung around waiting for Alberto to show up with my gear, word was he would be in town at 8:30pm. I sat with another racer who was waiting for his new custom duffel bag from RM Gear. We joked around with Chris and Helen as they received updates on 160 mile runners who had been on the course since 6 am. In the world of ultra running I have met some of the kindest people, but that goes a step further in Winter Ultras. When you are literally battling the worst that Winter can throw at you in the middle of nowhere, you have to sometimes rely on help from others and you certainly need to listen from experienced racers or you could put yourself in a life-threatening situation.
Before too long Chris and Helen had run and gotten their own gear to borrow us. Helen got me her waistbelt and custom bungee pull rope that she has used to finish Arrowhead 135 an impressive 6 times! I couldn't believe she was going to let essentially some stranger use her personal gear for an 80 miler the next day, I was so appreciative and told her I would bring it back tomorrow either after the race or before if my gear showed up in time. Chris gave out a duffel bag to the other racer to use. Roberto finally sent me an email at 3 am that night saying he dropped the gear at the KC Hall for pickup in the morning. I was able to return Helen her gear before the race and thanked her again. I headed back to the hotel and caught up with Bryan as we were sharing a room that night. We talked more about gear and he borrowed me one of his own rain jackets with the pending forecast of doom, again I was super appreciative and in awe of how kind everyone in this sport is. It was off to bed as the 160 miler runners and skiers battled night one on the course.
The Trip to the Startline
The alarms went off before 5 am for Bryan and I to finish our preparations and get to the KC Hall. We filled water bottles and loaded our gear up. I stopped at Kwik Trip for a breakfast sandwich, the biggest coffee they had, and a muffin for later on the trail. On to the KC Hall where I parked and loaded up my sled and secured the final bungees to hold everything in place for 80 miles. I picked up my gear that Roberto dropped off, adjusted it, and made sure everything would work before packing it in my sled. Race day is not the time to test your gear yet here I was going for it! I brought my sled over to a semi trailer that would transport all the bikes and sleds to Park Falls for the race start and I headed indoors to stay warm. The 160 mile bike race starts Saturday morning at 6 am so I watched them take off, most of whom would be passing me later that afternoon. |
| Thank you to the man in unicorn pajamas loading my sled at 6 am! |
We loaded on the buses at 6:30 am for a 6:45 departure. It was about a 2 hour ride to Park Falls where the race would start and would give us plenty of time to prepare our gear before the 10 am start. It was a nice 25 degrees out that morning but clouds filled the sky and it was only a matter of time before the storm rolled in. Bryan and I talked more about life and Winter Ultras on the bus ride. I had a couple of bananas I ate along the way with my coffee and just tried to relax, it was going to be a long day!
We arrived to Park Falls and my first order of business was to hit the bathroom after all the coffee, 2 buses of racers can create long lines! The start was at Park Falls City Hall which they graciously opened to us. Volunteers were there with coffee, cookies, and muffins for us. They lined the entry and hallway with chairs for racers to have a seat and stay warm before the race start. After the bathroom line I went out and waited for my sled at the semi. I got it loaded out for final last adjustments and made sure all my lights were working including a set of battery powered Christmas lights that Hazel picked out for me at the dollar store. I then stayed warm inside until about 15 minutes before the start.
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| Sleds and bikes get unloaded in Park Falls |
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| Bryan and I ready to head outside in Park Falls |
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| Sleds and bikes lined up in Park Falls |
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| Just about go time |
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| Last minute preparations |
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| My sled ready for an 80 mile pull |
Start to Loretta/Draper (Miles 0-19)
We all lined up with the bikes in front followed by skiers and sleds. At 10:00 am sharp the race started and we followed a police escort through the city streets of Park Falls to the trailhead. Sleds roared over the ice and pavement streets as everyone jockeyed for position before hitting the trail. The Tuscobia trail is a wide trail and former railroad grade so passing and even running side by side is not an issue. We didn't think we would see many snowmobiles out that day with the pending weather but still quite a few hit the trails before the snow degraded with the rain.I hit the trail mid-pack of the 61 race startes in the 80 mile foot division. The temps overnight setup the snow nicely in this section and it was very easy pulling the sled. The first 5 miles I did a run/walk passing others and maintaining a good 12-13 minute/mile pace. Everything was going great and it was just how long would it hold before weather moved in and trail conditions deteriorated. Mile 5 a very light freezing drizzle start but it was barley enough to wet the outer layer of my gear. We still moved along nicely. I ate my muffin from Kwik Trip at the one hour mark and everything was clicking. At mile 8 the drizzle turned to a freezing rain. With temps still in the 20's the rain quickly froze to everything. At one point even the zipper on my front pouch was frozen shut. I had packed all my gear in dry bags and things like my phone and GoPro in plastic zip lock bags. I was confident all my gear would stay dry but it was a matter of how many layer changes and would I stay warm enough with rain soaking through. By mile 10 the rain had already started to degrade the trail and make pulling the sled harder.
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| The early miles - staying in toe with the veterans Photo courtesy of Amy Broadmoore Photography |
For nutrition I was using Tailwind drink mix in a hydration bladder that I sipped on. At mile 12 I stopped and refilled the bladder from the hydroflasks along with some Pringles and nut mix . Most of the food I was eating to this point was Reese's Cups, Nutty Bars, and Gu blocks that I had stored in a front pouch attached to my waist belt (sugar & chocolate!). The rain complicated eating with the inability to keep things readily available and dry. I learned new skills for unwrapping things with gloves during the day although my dentist probably wouldn't approve.
Helen had said during the final briefing at race start that a groomer had gone over the trails near Lorretta/Draper early this morning. A groomer will cut the top layer of snow and then repack it smooth. The smooth layer needs time and cold temps to setup otherwise it just becomes a soft layer of snow that is easily torn up. This section was one of the toughest to go over as the rains quickly softened the top 4-6" layer and it was like walking in beach sand while pulling a sled. The footing was bad and it was just tough to get any momentum going. The leaders of the 160 mile bike race were passing us and even they were having a hard time with it. It would continue like this all the way to Loretta/Draper and then just beyond it. By the time I got into Lorretta/Draper the rain had lightened up and a wind picked up out of the East. I was glad to be about 25% into the race and was gaining some confidence.
Loretta/Draper to Ojibwa Checkpoint (Miles 19-33.5)
After passing through Draper and getting into Loretta I stopped along the trail to refill my hydration bladder with Tailwind and get some food. I did a glove change out, got my headlamp on, ate some more Pringles and nut mix, and then continued on. In the few minutes I was stopped the wind really chilled me. I jogged a bit to regain some warmth. It was about 3:30 pm as I left Loretta heading towards Winter and then the Ojibwa Checkpoint.It was tough going and I was only able to maintain a 20 minute/mile pace from Loretta to Ojibwa. Darkness came early with a 4:28 pm sunset and the storm clouds. I had my headlamp on by 4:15 and it would be like that for the next 15 hours.
I came across a few 160 milers in this stretch and would walk with them for about 10 minutes to hear about their long trip thus far and how they were doing. I felt lucky to only be in the 80 miler with these conditions. A large amount of 160 milers dropped at the 1/2 way checkpoint in Park Falls as they looked at the storm they would have to face. I give all of them credit, I would have done the same and to those who continued on, wow!
It was complete darkness as I went through the town of Winter. A couple sleds and bikes sat outside a bar & grill but being close to the checkpoint I kept moving on. At this point I hadn't been having much fun 6 hours in and the rains just kept coming in waves. I tried to stay positive with the short term goal of making Ojibwa in mind. I got in line behind a couple other sleds and we made the turn to Ojibwa which is down a short 1/2 mile spur trail. I found it odd that other than a couple of small marking flags, there was no sign directing you to Ojibwa. As I would find out later, there were others who would miss this turn. A sign with a light had either gotten knocked down or moved at the time I came through, luckily I was with some veterans who knew the turn and I followed them.
Up until this point I had been on trail and the affects of the storm were only limited to my small world on the trail and its condition. We got to the road and parking lot to find a 1/4" sheet of ice. The vehicles parked there were a solid ice and it was very hard to stay upright. I slipped around and made my way very slowly to the outside of the checkpoint. A couple of wonderful volunteers gave us a big greeting and quickly asked what they could do to help. I parked my sled and grabbed a change of layers and my water bottles from my bag to head inside.
Ojibwa checkpoint is an old stone building with open windows and a couple of fireplaces inside. It is a small building and they tarp the window openings to keep the heat inside. A volunteer took my number and tab from my race bib to note I had arrived. Another volunteer helped me find a seat as it was busy inside and then took my water bottles to refill. I can't say enough about the group of volunteers here, they were completely focused on the racers and went above and beyond what is expected at an aid station.
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| Exhausted but glad to be at Ojibwa checkpoint |
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| Amazing volunteers taking care of races at Ojibwa checkpoint |
The volunteers asked if I needed anything to be dried by the fire and I gave them a set of gloves I would use as a backup. I changed into my dry jacket from Bryan and then put a thin Columbia rain jacket on over. With temps now in the low 30's I felt these gave me my best shot to stay dry and warm overnight. The rain paints continued to work wonders so I kept them on but changed socks. My feet were soaked and already showing signs of blistering. Not much I could do other than dry them for a minute and put dry socks back on. I knew my feet would get wrecked but such is the case in any long distance ultra. I ate a cup of chicken noodle soup, a hot grilled cheese (mmm), and some of my beef jerky. I also restocked my food pouch for the next few hours and got ready to go again.
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| A racer sorts his gear at Ojibwa Checkpoint Photo courtesy of Amy Broadmoore Photography |
I got a quick weather update which didn't look good. The next stretch normally has a couple towns with open businesses but the ice storm had closed roads earlier in the evening. I knew I would have to make the run for 30 miles to mile 64 and the town of Birchwood before I would get any type of shelter or assistance. A little bit of fear began to set in as I put myself in danger being inexperienced and exposed to the worst of the storm overnight. This was truly where you only had yourself and other racers to rely on. I also lacked any confidence in setting up my emergency bivy and sleeping bag in the rain, not a good combination. Sometimes ignorance is bliss and I decided to continue on. Besides, dropping here did not mean shelter, due to the roads I would have had to go bivy outside overnight until the roads improved on Sunday.
I had arrived to Ojibwa at 7:38 pm and didn't want to stay too long. I packed up my sled, hit the bathroom, then went in to fill my last hydroflask of hot chocolate and coffee mix with hot water. They have an awesome selection of cold, warm, or hot water to fill up with and is unique to Winter Ultra needs. As I waited to fill my bottle one of the volunteers offered me a shot of Fireball whiskey for the road, why not and I took one back. Whatever I was doing seemed so crazy that why not add a shot to the mix. I checked out and told them thank you and I was heading back on trail. In a Winter Ultra it is important to always check in and check out so every racer is accounted for over this long trail. If you drop out, always let them know right away so you are not part of a rescue search the next day.
Ojibwa Checkpoint to Birchwood (Miles 33.5 to 64)
"Show up and Suffer!!!" - Bill Bradley (Endurance athlete and Winter Ultra runner)
Show up and suffer was my mantra for this race, Anne had even gotten me the hat from Bill Bradley as a Christmas gift. I repeated the saying over and over in my head. I had stopped having fun a long time ago in this race and now it was purely mental on how far I could push myself.
I left Ojibwa at 8:20 pm, a long break of 42 minutes but felt good with some real food in my stomach. I made my way across the icy road to the spur trail and then a hard right back on the Tuscobia trail. I was just behind a 160 miler and hung with him for a while. He was making a good pace and I felt more comfortable with someone. 3.5 miles later came race director Chris Scotch on snowmobile checking on racers. He stopped and talked with us for a couple minutes making sure we were in good shape. He said that one of the racers missed the Ojibwa checkpoint by almost 5 miles and was making his way back to it! At this point I went to check my map/mileage chart in my vest but it wasn't there. I apparently dropped it at Ojibwa so all I knew was that Birchwood was somewhere around mile 62-64 and the finish at mile 80.
We made our way ahead and eventually saw the racer who missed the checkpoint. The 160 miler mentioned that the guy is 68 years old and one tough racer who would go hit the checkpoint and finish. I did see him the next day at the finish! The 160 miler and myself both agreed we would have dropped rather than add an extra 10 miles in these miserable conditions. Shortly after the 160 miler stopped to change some gear and I kept moving ahead.
By the time I got to the town of Radisson (mile 39.5) it was a complete downpour of cold rain. At this point I was starting to question my sanity along with my skill level to be out in these conditions. Everything on me was soaked and I noticed my sled had taken on so much rain I had to tip it over and dump it out of at least 3 or more gallons of water. The road crossings were pure ice and I couldn't find a single car on the road or open business in town. As I cruised through town I saw lights in many homes and people watching the College Football playoff game of Clemson vs Ohio State. Why was I out here in the pouring rain being miserable? Again if I knew someone in Radisson, I would have quit. There is a community pavilion in the center of Radisson just off the trail and several racers were taking cover and talking. I thought about stopping but knew I would get chilled quickly and really what was the point of getting out of the rain, it was foretasted to downpour for another 7 hours at least!
I went ahead moving fast enough to stay warm but slow enough to keep from twisting my ankles in the slush and snow that was now the trail. Eating solid foods was also becoming a chore in the wet conditions. Gloves were completely soaked and opening any package immediately exposed it to rain. I continued eating small things and taking in proper fluids but over the next few hours I went calorie deficient.
Next up was the town of Couderay (mile 44.5) which I got to in the early morning hours. Lights were now off in all the homes as people slept. It was here I paired up with another 80 mile runner and we decided it was best to stick together to Birchwood at mile 64. The conditions were heavy rain, temps around 35 degrees, and the trail was getting worse with each passing mile. We struggled to maintain a speed of 3 mph and would take a break every mile for a quick bite and drink of fluids. We crossed farm pastures, railroad tracks, county roads, and eventually got up onto this ridgeline around mile 54. The winds from the east had really picked up and I was told later gusts went up to 30 mph, luckily at our backs. We saw race director Chris Scotch on snowmobile again at this same time. I asked him what my options were if I dropped at Birchwood. He said you can't drop at Birchwood as there is only 16 miles left to finish from there. I laughed and said I still had a marathon left to the finish and it was miserable out. He gave me a big vote of confidence and said to just keep moving forward and I'd get the finish I was looking for. It helped and I knew if I made it to Birchwood, that yes I could go on from there.
B.J. and I moved on and just kept moving ahead. It was in the early morning hours and we both were getting tired and aggravated by the conditions. The closer we got to Birchwood the further it seemed away and the less we spoke. We had originally thought we could get to Ed's Pit Stop gas station in Birchwood at 6-6:15 am. 6:00 am came and went and we still had not hit city limits. Finally at 7 am we were in city limits and by 7:15 as dawn began to break we arrived at Ed's Pit Stop. We saw the first vehicles in a long time on the roads and a plow truck out sanding and salting the roads. The main road was very slick as we crossed and the parking lot was more of a skating rink. There it was though, an open and warm gas station to go inside! I had never been more relieved, thankful, or excited to see a gas station with real people!!!!!
Ed's Pit Stop is a nice gas station with hot food and an area to sit with tables. I pulled my sled up next to B.J.'s and a couple of kick sleds, a fat tire bike, and went inside. The kick sled guys looked like the night took its toll and they were both dropping, just waiting on a ride. I took off my gear and went for food. I got a bacon, egg, & cheese croissant, Pearson's salted nut roll, and big bottle of water. All racers also got a free hot chocolate or coffee and I went straight for the sugar with a hot chocolate. I also picked up a set of dry waterproof gloves as most of my other ones were soaked through.
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| The most amazing gas station breakfast ever, well after I had already eaten it. |
I sat there just enjoying the warm and dry place to sit and eat. You can't possibly understand what simple modern conveniences feel like after spending a night outside like we just had. I filled up on food and fluids and relaxed. I began packing my gear back up and getting ready to hit the road again, racers continued coming in and none leaving too quickly. Chris Scotch pulled up on snowmobile again bringing a racer from the trail who dropped before making it to Birchwood. He asked me if I was headed back out and I gave him a smile that I was. My legs were trashed from pulling the sled through slush all night but it was time to move on.
Birchwood to Rice Lake (Miles 64-80)
"Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."—Joshua J. MarineThe next few miles were probably the worse sections of trail in terms of how hard the rain hit them. Leaving town the trail runs through the ditches which were filled with runoff water from the highway. For two miles the trail runs up and down several hills as it joins in with the 1200 mile Ice Age Trail. I stayed with B.J. for this section but he was hiking stronger than me this morning and he went on.
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| Slush trails welcomed us on Sunday morning |
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| Looking hard for the finish line! |
The trail flattens out quickly after those two miles and passes by one farm field after the next heading to Rice Lake. The pattern was to walk a mile, cross a road, walk a mile, cross a road, and so on. The rains had quit since Birchwood with only the occasional burst of freezing drizzle that might only last 10-15 minutes. It was welcome after the long night of pouring rain and was more manageable to keep gloves dry. I was also able to shed my hood and stay cooler when hiking.
I had passed Mile 70 and could sense the finish line even though my legs were in a lot of pain. As I came up to one of the road crossings I saw a gentlemen alongside the trail as racers came by slowly. Once I got close enough I realized it was my Uncle Jon!! I headed up to the road and by the time I got there my cousins Ellyn and Ava were there with one of Ava's friends. I updated them on everything from the last 25 hours of racing and weather overnight. They couldn't believe I kept with it through the tough conditions. We talked for over 10 minutes and I began to get really chilled so it was time to move again. As we stood there a light freezing rain fell as was only appropriate for this race in 2019. It really did mean a lot to me to have them come out and support me.
Jon and my cousins were able to watch my progress via live tracking and knew when I was getting close to road crossings. Ultra-running in most aspects is a very selfish thing I do. There are the countless hours spent training and being away from Anne and the kids including on this Holiday weekend after Christmas. I try to keep this in mind and limit any inconveniences to others while I do this crazy sport, but having my uncle and cousins come out to stand along a highway in freezing rain on a Sunday morning meant a lot to me and I am grateful for the support my family and friends give.
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| Mile 71 heading for the finish Photo courtesy of my Uncle Jon |
After saying goodbye to my uncle and cousins I continued on the trail having a nice boost of energy. It was late morning Sunday and I had already been out here longer than anticipated, it was time to finish this. I had 5 more miles to reach the end of the Tuscobia Trail and then take a connector trail for 4 miles into Rice Lake and the finish line. I wasn't moving very quickly but maintaining a steady pace and stopping every mile for a short break that included a drink of Tailwind and a snack. The miles clicked off albeit slowly. Imagine being used to driving to work everyday at 60 mph but all of a sudden your car could only go 15 mph. Things come to a crawl and mile markers seemed to never come. This was essentially the end of my Tuscobia 80, the miles clicked off painfully slow but I just couldn't move much faster, and really what was the difference in 15-30 minutes in the overall finish at this time anyways? At mile 76 I reached the end of the Tuscobia Trail and crossed County Road SS making the hard left onto Wild Rivers Trail.
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| The start (or end for me) of the Tuscobia Trail |
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| Ice Age Trailhead |
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| The final miles of trail |
Shortly after taking these pictures and making the turn South the rains came again. It rained heavy for almost an hour as I trudged towards the finish. If anything was certain at Tuscobia 2019, it was that miles were not to be run in dry conditions. All I could do was put my head down and push ahead. A couple of 160 mile bikers passed me here along with a couple runners who still had legs left to run the last section in. At one point I even pulled out my phone and used Google Maps to tell me how much longer to the KC Hall, excellent only a 1/2 mile left! It went by and as I neared the KC Hall pavilion and finish line sign, Helen Scotch made her way out with cowbell in hand to congratulate me. She took my picture under the finish and I went inside to receive my finisher's hat. It was nice to be out of the rain and able to sit down. I talked with some of the other racers about what just happened the last 29 hours. I had left on a bus 32 hours earlier and just experienced a bunch of crazy weather to get back to this same spot!
Finishing Time: 29 hours and 2 minutes (21st place)
80 Mile Run: 63 starters, 31 finishers
(49% finish rate, tied for lowest in category over 11 year history)
80 Mile Winner: Gretchen Metsa in 17 hours and 50 minutes!
Other Notables:
Bryan Sampson (80 mile bike): 11 hours and 20 minutes
Chris Moroch (160 mile run): 58 hours and 27 minutes
Other Notables:
Bryan Sampson (80 mile bike): 11 hours and 20 minutes
Chris Moroch (160 mile run): 58 hours and 27 minutes
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| Tuscobia 80 Finisher Beanie |
I hobbled out of the KC Hall to retrieve my car and pack up my gear, returned the rental sled to Helen and thanked her for everything, then changed clothes and hit the road. Before leaving Rice Lake I got the biggest bag of food from Culvers (yes with cheese curds) and made my way south to Madison. I had to stop halfway for a quick 1-1/2 hour nap as once darkness hit my body just wanted to sleep. I made it back to Liz and Chris's home in Madison just in time to see everyone, grab a shower, and hit the bed.
I was driven to Tuscobia for the allure and challenge of Winter Ultras. 2019 Tuscobia did not disappoint in the challenge it put forward as Mother nature truly leads every race we run. I don't know when or if I will be back to take on another Winter Ultra but hope it is sooner rather than later. Tuscobia is an amazing race with amazing race directors, Arrowhead 135 also seems to call my name. I made a lot of rookie errors yet still have so much more to learn, including racing in actual winter weather. I did walk away with a little more grit than when I started and feel more confident in bad weather running. I will never complain about a rainy morning run ever again.
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Major Lessons Learned
- Pack for the weather and a range near it. I packed way too many items and in ignorance carried cold weather and down gear that would never have worked with the forecast. It was dead weight I pulled for 80 miles.
- Train pulling a sled and/or tire. I knew this from others suggestions but in the delay of getting my waist belt from RM Gear never did it. This certainly would have paid off in the late stages of the race.
- Train with a weight vest and practice walking - Thanks to my friend Brad I was able to borrow his 20 lb weight vest and do quite a few long hikes at a fast walking pace. I know this did help me and gave me confidence going in.
- Food - I still need to learn to eat enough on long distance runs to fuel the furnace.
- Keep moving - with the rain I am happy in how I kept moving down the trail and never really got cold even when my layers were soaked with sweat and rain.
- Gloves - in wet conditions use a latex surgical glove as a liner and then waterproof gloves on top.
- Utilize gear with primaloft/synthetic insulations for wet weather. Down won't do much good.
- Practice, practice, practice getting in and out of your sleeping bag and bivy quickly and with gloves on. I never had to bivy but I know I had a severe lack of confidence in my ability at 3 am when it was pouring rain.
Gear
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| My gear sorted out post race |
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| The duffel bag I used |
The stuff I actually used.....
- Sleeping bag - rental -40 deg F bag from Feathered Friends in Seattle (great customer service and renting a bag is the way to go for your first couple Winter Ultras)
- Sleeping Pad - REI Co-op Flash Sleeping Pad
- Bivy Sack - Outdoor Research (got it for $20 at a REI Garage Sale event)
- Sled - Ski Pulk Paris Pulk (rented from race directors Chris & Helen Scotch)
- Waist Pack - RM Gear
- Pull Rope - RM Gear (bungee type)
- Duffel Bag - 48" x 15" duffel off Amazon, bigger than I needed, attached to sled with bungee cords
- Gloves - latex liner with various outer layers, best was Arc'Teryx Venta mitten which I used for over 1/2 the race. (Thanks Rachael at Arc'Teryx Chicago for the recommendation)
- Baselayers - Helly Hansen (polypropelene blend long sleeve top, merino wool bottoms)
- Pants - Cabela's waterproof lightweight pant with mesh liner
- Jackets - New Balance water resistant hooded coat (1st 33.5 miles) and then used Showers Pass jacket and Columbia lightweight rain coat with hood the last 46.5 miles.
- Buffs - used 3 buffs over the course of the race to cover my head and ears
- Glasses - I used a pair of glasses with amber polarized lenses. Amber lenses improve clarity and detail in low light conditions (especially with snow) and blocked the freezing rain from my eyes.
- Reflective vest - required vest, purchased strap-type from Amazon
- Lights - I used the Niterider Cherrybomb 35 with Energizer lithium batteries, they lasted 24+ hours. I had 2 on the back of my sled and 1 on my waist pack with backup lights and batteries.
- Shoes - Altra Lone Peak 4 mid-boot RSM (waterproof)
- Gaiters - RM Gear (waterproof)
- Socks - Injinji toe socks with a wool blend sock over the toe socks. I also used Trail Toes but my feet were toasted afterwards due to the rain. Others recommended Desitin Creamy which I may try on the next shot.
- Tailwind - I mixed this in all my water for nutrition, it also helps lower the freezing point of water which helps in colder temps.
- Food - Reeses's PB cups, Nutty Bars, Pringles, Grilled Cheese, Soup, Lance Crackers, Muffin, various other candy, Gu Blocks. Going back with warmer temps, I could have expanded my food selection.
- Headlamps - Black Diamond with lithium batteries worked best. I also used a Foxelli rechargeable that went dead after 5 hours.
- Vacuum Flasks - I used 4 Bubba 40 oz. vacuum flasks from Amazon. No issues in warmer weather and I would only carry 3 next time for a Tuscobia event. The checkpoint and Birchwood Gas station only create 30 mile sections.
- Ultimate Direction Jurek North Vest with 2 liter hydration bladder
The stuff I pulled for 80 miles but never used.....
- Wintergreen Anorak shell (unlined) and half-zip guide pants (great stuff, just was never anywhere cold enough to use. Made in Ely, Minnesota!
- Multiple changes of baselayers and shirts, brought too many, not an issue in warm weather.
- Outdoor Research down hoody - down in rain and too warm
- Socks - I had enough socks to change every 10 miles but only changed at the checkpoint.
- Food - I had over 12,000 calories of food, could have ditched the heavier items not used.
- Various jackets - I had another 5 jackets I brought but never used
- Yaktraks
- A few other things that just took up space.
I had a solid 10+ of gear I never used and only weighed me down in the slush, I should have better packed based on final weather forecast. I admit I went into this very nervous and not being able to test gear only made it more difficult to toss out gear.
For anyone planning their first Tuscobia or Winter Ultra, I'd love to share what I learn so feel free to reach out.
Stay warm & dry out there this Winter,
Andrew Ruthenbeck
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