Robert L. DeVelice and Laura McDonough, both of Anchorage, won "The
Race
Across Frozen Alaska", the Susitna 100. Robert was third overall
finishing behind one Skier and one Biker, while Laura was the 6th overall
finisher of all divisions.
Southcentral Alaska had experienced the mildest winter in 50 years and
just weeks before the race there was a growing concern that there was not
enough snow and worst of all, the frozen lakes and rivers would be covered
with overflow caused by melting. This course shares trails with the
Iditarod Dog Sled Race, which is only a trail with the help of winter's
frozen terrain. One week before the race 20-30" of dry powder snow was
dumped on the course. This snow never did compact.
The un-compacted snow made the conditions similar to running in 80 miles
of loose sand. The first and last 10 miles on the Big Lake ice road were
the only solid footing. Many of the bicyclist said they pushed their
bikes for the entire non-Big Lake distance. Even the skiers found their
skis sinking into the soft snow, as there was no optimal mode of
transportation this year. Normally the bikers represent the majority of
the participants but this year two-thirds of the entrants elected to
accept the challenge on foot.
At the Awards banquet the race was titled the "Year of the
Checker." The
aid station checkers had a big job. The Eaglesong Lodge Check Point (48
Miles) had 18 of the 27 DNF's. After having temperatures in the mid 30's
during the afternoon the thermometer had plunged to -5 by Eaglesong near
midnight. It was reported that -20 was even seen at the Hartley Beach or
Yentna River Check Point (Mile 60). The rapid temperature drop on top of
the heavy exertion through the loose snow led to a record drop rate.
One consolation of dropping at the mile 48 checkpoint was the air
evacuation the next day. Planes equipped with skis flew racers and their
sleds or bikes out two at a time. The aerial return provided some great
views of the second 50 miles, which most will wait until next year to
experience.
For many runners, the sun was setting near the Susitna River crossing.
The shirt design this year depicted a star filled night sky against a
silhouette of Mt. Susitna, "The Sleeping Lady." The runners were
treated
to this exact profile view as the sun was setting. The Alaska winter sun
is already low in the sky, which makes the sunsets seem to last forever.
Once it did get dark, the stars in that black sky were incredibly bright,
though little time was spent stargazing due to the rapidly falling
temperatures.
The record low finish rate was generally accepted as part of the weather
related risk associated with this 100 miler. Monica Scholz, finishing her
third 100 in just six weeks, described the race as the hardest 100 she has
ever done. That is an impressive endorsement from the woman's record
holder of sixteen 100 mile completions in 2000.
The Susitna 100 has a terrific race organization and they certainly did an
excellent job ensuring runner safety during this Alaskan winter wilderness
experience. All the race officials and volunteers worked hard to provide
a great event. The owners and volunteers at the Flathorn Lake and
Eaglesong Lodges deserve a big thanks along with the Hartley Beach and
Little Susitna River tent checkpoints. The race, formerly known as the
Iditasport 100, showed the entrants that it was the same well organized
race as in the past, now to be known as the race beneath the Sleeping Lady
Mountain or the Susitna 100.
Susitna 100
Big Lake, Alaska
February 17-19, 2001
Ice Roads, Frozen Lakes, Frozen Rivers and Snow Trails
2,600' Elevation Gain
1. Robert L. DeVelice, 46 28:49:00
2. Jim Jager, 40, OR 32:32:00
3. Laura McDonough, 40 F 32:32:00
4. Jamshid Khajavi, 47, WA 36:14:00
5. Jenifer Kohout, 36 F 38:34:00
Monica Scholz, 33, CAN F 38:34:00
7. Jacques Boutet, 44 40:23:00
8. Robert Lisey, 50, OH 40:42:00
9. John Collins, 24 43:53:00
10. John F. Bauer, 59, WA 44:35:00
11. Leon J. Draxler, 58, WA 44:54:00
38 Starters
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