Good Read - Lindsay Gauld's Arrowhead Ultra adventure

Proud to call Lindsay my friend - He's the real deal

Release the hounds! That is the cry that announces the start of the Arrowhead 135.

I have just completed the Ultra for the ninth time and at age 75, have decided that this will be my last race.

Also along for the adventure were Ken Landgraff, who was competing in the “unsupported” category, Dave Barclay, who was my support team and Al Dixon, long time volunteer at the event and helper to anyone in need of assistance. 

Two years ago at the Iditarod I told my friend, Phil Roadley that this was going to be my final race. Little did I realize that I was about to get injured and forced to be evacuated. I guess it never quite sat properly with me that my last event ended up on the back of a snowmobile.

My friend Charlie Farrow and I talked about doing the Arrowhead this year in the manner of the explorers of the early 1900s, like Shackleton and Mallory. We dressed in a combination of wool, tweed, and cotton canvas. We also determined that Shackleton didn’t have access to multiple gears, so single speed was the way to go. I hope Sir Ernest will ignore the fact that I still used a carbon frame.

The course was challenging for all of us this year with very little snow and virtually no snowmobilers to firm the course. We were literally the first ones on the trail in lots of spots. 

The single speed proved to be quite a challenge. In a number of cases I was simply not strong enough to keep it rolling up even the smallest grades. 

I had two bike issues that added to the challenges. My rear rack mounts on the seat stays broke with about 14 miles to go to Gateway. After attempting to jerry rig a set up, I had no choice but to ride in with the weight of my panniers and sleeping bag gear, dragging along on the the wheel. 

To add to my misery, just after that I went off course and did a 3 1/2 km fun loop.

Once I got to the Gateway check point, my faithful man servant Dave managed to do an amazing repair to enable me to carry on with a slightly reconfigured attachment of all my gear. I was good to go! 

I had a further issue with my panniers about halfway to MelGeorge’s, where I had to do some significant McGivering again to enable me to continue. At that point a young rider named Peter stopped and helped me with this chore. (I say young because Peter is in his forties.) We rode into MelGeorges together after about 19 hours on the trail.

After a four hour break at Mel George’s I was on my way at 8:30 in the morning. This leg is typically the hardest in the race. It took me almost 12 hours to reach Embark, the next checkpoint. I was feeling somewhat lonely when a light came walking towards me. It was my manservant Dave! He had come out to meet me. I can only assume that he was looking and realizing how slow I was going, and that he would easily able to keep up with me.

Somewhere along the line during the race, my bike computer had stopped working. For those who know me, you will recognize how this would torture me. When Dave came along, he mentioned that he had walked 5.86 kms from the checkpoint. From that point on I was like a little kid in a car trip and I was asking him how far we had to go every two or 300 yards!

The 25 miles from the Embark checkpoint to the finish, have several significant hills. The last is Wakemup, it being one of the toughest in the race. After that, it’s a fairly flat run into the finish. That was my vision, howeverI found that my hands and arms were extremely sore and tired from both the uphill pushing, and the bumpiness of the course. I was only able to keep myself riding for five minutes at a time and then had to get off and walk for three minutes. At least I kept moving. 

When I turned off the Arrowhead Trail and onto the route to Fortune Bay I knew I was almost there and perhaps let my guard down. Fatigue seem to just wash over me. I found myself barely able to stay awake. With perhaps a mile and a half to go to the finish, I became clumsy.  

I could not get myself started on the bike without falling over. Finally, I was able to get started on one downhill stretch, but not again. I was resigned to walking the rest of the way to the line so as to not further hurt myself this close to the end.

With about a mile to go I saw lights coming towards me again. This time there were two. It was Team Winnipeg, Al and Ken had come out to cheer me in.

I reached the finish at 3:57 in the morning and was welcomed by a cheering crowd. Officials informed me that I was the oldest finisher ever for the Arrowhead, which is something I’m quite proud of. I knew the former record holder, Erv Berglund and he’s a wonderful competitor. I consider us equal record holders, as at 75, a few months makes little difference. I only wish I had been quicker, Erv had been at the finish line earlier and I would have enjoyed seeing him. 

I can’t end this without giving a heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who make this race possible; especially Ken and Jackie Kreuger who do an incredible job. This race is truly one of the friendliest and most enjoyable events I have ever experienced. I will miss not racing, but I expect to be here again often to help and to cheer.

Gary’s notes - Lindsay always tells a great tale of his adventures. A simple google search will pull up a number of highlights of his illustrious athletic career. Always a humble yet tireless competitor who keeps on ticking. Congrats Lindsay.