Blaine Tonking and Steve Link Complete Arrowhead 135

endurance races at the beginning of March: the Arrowhead Winter Ultra, which consists of covering 135 miles across northern Minnesota on bike, foot and skis. The five were MIDN 1/C Luke Finney, who in 2009 became the youngest finisher in Arrowhead history; MIDN 2/C Blaine Tonking who wanted another crack after hypothermia forced him out of last year's race painfully close to the finish line; MIDN 1/C Steve Link, who missed the 2009 race because of injuries that kept him from adequately preparing for the race, MIDN 2/C Garret Griffin, a workout warrior who once rode a bicycle 2 hours to get to the starting line of a 50 mile footrace and MIDN 3/C John McDonough who planned on competing this year but ended up as a support crew member.

Temperatures at the start of the race were about 21 degrees below freezing reaching a high of 10 degrees during mid-day. So, why anyone would voluntarily take on such a challenge is a question for which there are as many answers as there are competitors.

"For everyone the race is different,” said Midshipman Steve Link. "You train differently, you race differently and you do it for your own reasons.”

However, all of the 5 team members shared a hope that the race would be an effective way to raise awareness and funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the families of fallen and wounded special operations personnel.

"We all have some personal connection to somebody in the special operations community,” explained Midshipman Luke Finney. "We all knew somebody who had been hurt and we all recognized that this was something we could do to help them out.”

Arrowhead competitors know going in that there is a very real chance they won't be able to finish within the 60 hour time limit, but for the Midshipmen, the attrition began before the race even started. John fell victim to appendicitis just days before the race, but was still able to recover quickly enough to play a key role as a member of the support team. Shortly after the race started he was joined by Blaine who had to drop out when dizziness attacks hit him early in the race. Luke, Steve and Garret were able to stay together until past the midway point when leg and ankle problems forced Garret out of the race.

Arrowhead had claimed two of the fittest, most determined competitors in the field, but Steve and Luke were able to finish despite extreme temperatures that dipped to more than 20 degrees below zero, hilly terrain and the ever-present danger of hallucinations brought on by lack of sleep, vividly described by Steve Link.

"There was the camera crew, the guy fixing his snowmobile and Blaine at a vending machine. They were simply apparitions brought out by my fatigue and a lack of sleep.”

The reward for covering 135 miles in 51 hours and 18 minutes: a polished stone arrowhead and more than $12,000 raised for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. But with the memories of bitter cold and exhaustion of the Arrowhead 135 still fresh in their minds, Luke, Blaine and John have set their sights on another staggering challenge: the MOAB 100 mile footrace through the Utah desert on March 27th. To show your support for Luke, Blaine and John's efforts to support the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, click here.

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