Like many, Claire Richard took up biking during the COVID pandemic. While many new bikers are content to check out their local trails and gravel roads, Claire dreamed bigger. Claire dreamed of racing the Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI) — the original winter ultramarathon — in Alaska. To qualify, Claire first had to race Arrowhead 135 — a winter ultra modeled after the Iditerod — in Minnesota.
I caught up with Claire after Arrowhead 135. We talked about how Claire learned the skills necessary to complete the world’s toughest winter ultras. We talked about her fears heading into winter ultras and how she is overcoming them. Claire shared her favorite winter ultra gear. Finally, we talked about the importance of mentors and who her biggest role models are.
What was your biking background prior to Arrowhead 135?
I’ve been riding for about 3 1/2 years now and racing for 2 1/2 years.
During COVID, I bought an older Specialized Hardrock on Facebook for $350. I had grown up with a bike — riding around our county block, commuting to campus in college etc. — but I was so naive about biking. I had no idea about the capabilities of modern bikes or what cool events and adventures people were having on them.
Luckily, I had a childhood friend Erin who introduced me to the local bike community and welcomed me and was patient through my very beginner phase. In the fall of 2020, our local bike club, Shoreline Cycling Club, planned a mountain bike trip to Brown County State Park. Erin encouraged me to go, even though I felt like I wasn’t good enough and thought I would hold people back. She assured me that there was a trail for everyone, people of all different capabilities were going, and it was about having fun as a group. So, I went.
That trip really opened my eyes in so many ways. I saw a level of fitness and technical skill on the bike I didn’t know was possible. I saw features I thought I would never be able to ride. I climbed hills and went distances I never had imagined I would. …and I loved it! I loved having fun in the woods with friends. I loved pushing myself and feeling strong after. I loved the singular focus required to read and ride trails.
Races started to happen again mid-2021, and by then I was all in on bikes. I had dot watched an ITI, started following professional racing, gone backpacking, increased my fitness and skills… Racing seemed like the next step.
Pretty early on, you started dreaming about racing the Iditarod Trail Invitational or “ITI”. For those who don’t know, ITI is the original winter ultra, held each year along the remote Iditarod Trail in Alaska. ITI has 350 and 1,000 mile options.
I don’t remember exactly when I started having ITI thoughts, but it was sometime in 2022 because I was doing the research on qualification races and required gear. We were probably watching lots of Jay Petervary and Rebecca Rusch videos that winter. Haha. I knew, if we even had a thought of doing ITI, we had to start working toward that goal years out.
What sounds exciting about racing ITI?
So many things sound exciting about racing ITI: the community, the terrain, the solitude, the vast beauty, the dynamic conditions, the potential to meet sled dogs! …but a lot of things sound terrifying too, like ice crossings, overflow, extreme cold and wind, sleep deprivation, and the toll day after day difficult conditions can take on you.
Can you aspire to ITI without having Jill as a role model? Representation matters, and seeing her out there killing it at all these tough events has definitely given me more confidence to attempt things I may have written off before trying.
As a first step towards racing ITI, you signed up for your first winter ultra — the 140 mile Polar Role Ultra in Upper Michigan? How did your first winter ultra go?
I did a lot of prep and research heading into my first winter ultra. I was quite scared about the possibility of riding solo at night in the wilderness, so I did several nighttime training rides to get more comfortable.
What I was most surprised by was that I never felt scared out there. I think the favorable conditions helped, but so did knowing there were others out there on the same path, even if they weren’t directly near me, and that people were watching my dot. They were with me without being with me, and that brought a surprising amount of comfort.
This year’s Arrowhead 135 was your second winter ultra. Where did you get the information and skills necessary to complete Arrowhead 135?
I got the information to complete Arrowhead from a variety of sources like the race website, YouTube, following Jill Martindale’s and Evan Simula’s experiences last year, reading any winter ultra gear list I could get my hands on, and joining the Wild Winter Women Facebook group. The Wild Winter Women Facebook group is an awesome community of women who are super helpful and willing to answer any question.
I got the skills to complete Arrowhead from riding in a variety of conditions. Nothing against fair weather riders, but not being one has helped me become comfortable in a lot of conditions.
If I had to choose one thing that has prepared me the most, I would say bikepacking. You have to make gear selections. You get to know your gear. You have to manage nutrition and logistics. You have to be prepared to fix your bike if anything goes wrong, and you’re likely to need mental fortitude at some point.
The Wild Winter Women Facebook group is an awesome community of women who are super helpful and willing to answer any question.
What was your biggest concern or fear going into Arrowhead 135?
My biggest fear initially was dealing with extreme cold temps because I don’t have a lot of experience with that. When the warm forecast started to materialize, I honestly wasn’t afraid of anything… maybe having terrible snow and having to walk the entire thing… not getting top 3 women? Haha. I knew I could finish it, barring a really bad mechanical.
I was concerned about my nutrition though as I haven’t quite dialed in a mix that works great for me, and I often battle gut issues and nausea during these long events. I guess I was also concerned about getting caught up in the race of it all and not riding my own ride from the start.
What should have been your biggest concern or fear going into Arrowhead 135?
I was spot on with my concerns. I went out too hard and also ended up with nausea and gut issues, which is why I stayed so long at Melgeorge’s aid station. It didn’t seem fun to suffer that for 15 more hours, and one of my goals was to have more fun. [After initially leading the race, Claire ended up finishing in fifth.]
I’ve already identified some changes to my nutrition plan and am looking forward to testing them and working toward a plan that works for me. I am still concerned about extreme cold, since we didn’t get that this year.
What gear did you find most valuable at Arrowhead 135? Is there any gear you could have done without?
Oh my goodness! So much gear I could have done without! The warm temps threw me for a loop, as did the threat of open water. I overpacked spare base layers, socks, hats and buffs. I even took a spare set of boot liners!
The gear I found most valuable was my rain shell, my 45NRTH Naughtvind Pants, my fox fur ruff, plastic produce bags and a Fenix front light with handlebar remote.
MVP gear:
rain shell — Last minute, I packed a rain shell that proved to be valuable overnight when the temps were still above freezing and it was precipitating.
45NRTH Naughtvind Pants — I’ve been riding with these for a few seasons now and love them. They are the right amount of stretchy, are water resistant, and fit me really well. I wouldn’t do a winter event without them.
fox fur ruff — It was probably overkill for the temps, but I loved the ruff I sewed on my jacket this year. It’s so cozy! In training rides, it worked so well at keeping the snow out of my eyes when I wasn’t wearing glasses. That’s really crucial because it’s difficult to keep eyewear from fogging up when you have a buff up on your face, so I often prefer to not wear glasses in the winter. During Arrowhead, it was very nice to have coming across Elephant Lake when the wind was whipping and it was sleeting.
plastic produce bags — Yes, the kind you get from the grocery store, though it kills me a little. They work as a great vapor barrier between a liner sock and heavier wool sock to keep the boot liner from wetting out and making your feet cold.
Fenix front light with handlebar remote — This is probably my favorite piece of gear for riding at night. There is a little remote for the light that velcros to the handle bar and can be used to change the brightness of the light or boost the brightness for 30 seconds – all without having to take your hands out of the pogies! The boost option is excellent for downhills and techy sections when you need more light just for a bit.
Finally, do you have any role models? If so, who and why?
I feel like I have so many role models now!
Erin Secord — My friend Erin is a great steward for biking while also being a badass on the bike herself. She is welcoming and truly wants to help people have fun on bikes. She inspires me to help others who are beginning their cycling journey.
Jill Martindale — Can you aspire to ITI without having Jill as a role model? Representation matters, and seeing her out there killing it at all these tough events has definitely given me more confidence to attempt things I may have written off before trying.
Paige Onweller — Paige was my coach last year. I admire her for her courage to enter a new sport in her 30’s and have the tenacity to rise to the top of it, push it to be better, and be a driving voice for women in U.S. cycling. As someone who also came into this sport later in life, it’s encouraging to see someone who didn’t come up in cycling have success.
Devin McNalley — Devin is my director at my day job and friend. She is not a cyclist, but is a passionate feminist and exceptional leader who has been instrumental in guiding me to have confidence in myself, identify my roadblocks, and ask myself why not when I think I can’t do something.
Christina Peek — Christina is part of my local biking scene and also did Arrowhead this year. There is no adventure or event that phases Christina. She may not be the fastest, but she almost always gets it done. I love her ability to just throw panniers and a bivvy on her bike and head out for an overnight.
Rebecca Rusch — She is one of the OGs of doing tough adventure stuff and has been an inspiration as I’ve dove into adventuring.
Jessie Diggins — Another non-cyclist, but wow the way she trains and can eek out every ounce of energy she has during a race is so inspiring. I also like her sparkles and that she owns them! Growing up, I felt that being into sports as a female meant I had to be a tomboy and hate pink or anything “girly,” so I appreciate that she shows girls it doesn’t have to be that way.
Onward 
Leave a comment