Trudging for hours or days across snow without stopping (all while pulling your supplies) is a niche activity embraced by a winter-obsessed sliver of the ultra crowd. Welcome to the sport of winter ultras. Button up.
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In this article, veteran snow-slogger John Storkamp divulges his evolution from marathon runner to “human sled dog” over a decade of racing some of the toughest winter ultras on Earth. Read on for a peek into this niche sport and some tips for those ready to dive in.
IN 2013, MY LONG-TIME TRAINING AND RACING partner Matt Long and I participated in the granddaddy of all human-powered winter ultramarathons, the Iditarod Trail Invitational. It requires participants to travel vast distances through remote areas, in the winter, on snow-covered trails, dragging gear for self-sufficient survival.
Seven glorious and challenging days (and 350 miles) later, we reached the finish line in the tiny Alaskan outpost of McGrath. The fat-bikers and front-runners were long since gone.
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Becoming a Sled Dog: Entry Into Winter Ultras
Arrowhead 135: In The Harness
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