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February 1, 2012

Photos: Racing the Arrowhead 135

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Minnesota's oddly warm winter put the kibosh on the annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, but another competition -- on foot, bike or skis -- gave extreme athletes a chance to test their mettle Up North. The Arrowhead 135 endurance race on Jan. 30 from International Falls to the Fortune Bay Casino in Tower, attracted entrants from all over the country. First place eventually went to Kevin Breitenbach, of Alaska.

Chris Peters

1

Elephant Lake, Minn. — Chris Peters, of Iowa, makes his way across Elephant Lake early Tuesday morning, Jan. 31., near the Melgeorge's check-in point about 70 miles into the Arrowhead 135 race. Peters dropped out of the race at Melgeorge's. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

Jason Boon

2

Elephant Lake, Minn. — Jason Boon of St. Paul, Minn., makes his way across Elephant Lake early Tuesday morning near the Melgeorge's check-in point and the halfway mark of the Arrowhead 135 ultra marathon. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

Charlie Farrow

3

Tower, Minn. — Charlie Farrow of Duluth, Minn. approaches the finish line of the Arrowhead 135 ultramarathon Tuesday afternoon at Fortune Bay Casino in Tower, Minn. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

Heidi Peter

4

Elephant Lake, Minn. — Heidi Peter of Lacey, Wash. makes her way across Elephant Lake early Tuesday morning. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

Melgeorge's resort check-in point

5

Orr, Minn. — Runners, bikers and skiers sleep, eat, drink, talk and recover at a cabin serving as the check-in point at the Melgeorge's resort early Tuesday morning near Orr, Minn. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

Lee Peyton

6

Orr, Minn. — Lee Peyton of Edinburgh, Scotland, winces as Sabine Couteau, a nurse from Grenoble, France, lances a toenail on his left foot so fluid could drain from a blister beneath the toenail. A few minutes later, Couteau did the same for the big toe on Peyton's right foot. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

Lee Peyton's blistered and bruised feet

7

Elephant Lake, Minn. — Lee Peyton's blistered and bruised feet after 70 miles of running over snow, ice and rocks during the Arrowhead 135 ultramarathon. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

Matt Maxwell

8

Tower, Minn. — Matt Maxwell, of Ames, Iowa, finishes the Arrowhead 135 ultramarathon Tuesday afternoon at Fortune Bay Casino in Tower, Minn. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

Charlie Farrow

9

Tower, Minn. — Charlie Farrow, of Duluth, Minn. rests for a second after finishing the Arrowhead 135 ultra marathon Tuesday afternoon at Fortune Bay Casino in Tower, Minn. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

Chris Peters of Iowa

10

Elephant Lake, Minn. — Chris Peters of Iowa makes his way across Elephant Lake early Tuesday morning. (Photo for MPR by Derek Montgomery) link to this photo

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