"When 75-year-old Michael Koppy crossed the finish line of the 2026 Arrowhead 135 Mile on January 28 with 59:30:00 on the clock, he became the oldest ever finisher of the difficult winter race in northern Minnesota. The event, held entirely on snow on the Arrowhead State Trail, often sees temperatures that dip well below zero degrees Fahrenheit and high attrition rates, and this year was no exception, with less than half of the runners finishing the race."
"The race also has a ski and bike category, and all competitors must carry a full complement of survival gear, including a -20-degree Fahrenheit sleeping bag, a bivvy or tent, eight ounces of fuel, a stove, and a pot. Koppy, as well as most of the other runners, carried their gear in a tow-behind sled. Racers must carry a whistle around their neck to call for help if needed, with the warning that their mouths could become too numb to yell."
Michael Koppy, 75, finished the Arrowhead 135 on January 28 in 59:30:00, becoming the oldest ever finisher of the winter race in northern Minnesota. The 135-mile route runs on groomed multi-use trail from International Falls to Tower and sees extreme cold and high attrition. Seventy runners started and only 32 finished this year. The race requires competitors to carry survival gear including a -20-degree Fahrenheit sleeping bag, a bivvy or tent, fuel, stove, and pot, and many tow sleds with their equipment. The course includes about 6,500 feet of elevation gain with hills concentrated in the middle and Wakemup Hill near the end. Koppy previously dropped six miles from the finish in 2025 after collapsing and being assisted by medics.
Read at iRunFar
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