Sarah Lowell story
Posted by planetultramarathon on February 9, 2007
http://www.timberjay.com/current.php?article=3031
One woman wouldn’t quit, despite hardships
Sarah Lowell wasn’t the first to finish the Arrowhead Ultramarathon, but no one disputes that she was most determined. She’s a petite woman, who teaches physical education to elementary students in North Carolina. She’s climbed mountains and competed in a dozen 100 mile races, including five times in Alaska. But none of those experiences compared to her 55 hours on the trail between International Falls and Lake Vermilion during this week’s bitter cold snap. She saw wolves, incredible stars, and camped out on a night when the windchill surpassed minus 45 degrees.
“This was probably the most epic experience of my life,” she said barely an hour after reaching the finish line at Bay View Lodge. “I could write a book on the last three days.”
Lowell was not just the only woman to finish this week’s race, she was also the only one to do so on foot. While more than three-quarters of the racers dropped out due to the extreme conditions, Lowell was indefatigable as she walked the 135 mile course while pulling a sled, in temperatures she described as “unbelieveable.”
But Lowell had something the others didn’t— a commitment to a sick young boy back home in North Carolina. A student of hers, named Daniel, was recently diagnosed with a rare cancer that has invaded his spinal column and left him paralyzed. The five-year old boy faces a year of treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee and Lowell was competing in this week’s race to raise money for the boy’s family as well as awareness of the disease.
Despite the cold, Lowell was able to stay focused on her quest. She posted her student’s photo on her sled, along with the banner: “Daniel’s Polar Express.” “It definitely gave me the motivation I needed,” she said.
She also got a little help along the way from strangers, including Sue Martin, owner of Moosebirds Store on Lake Vermilion’s west end. Sue and her husband Ron had woken Wednesday morning to find a tent perched on their covered deck. Lowell had lost her way in the overnight darkness and saw the lights of the Martin’s residence, and hoped to find protection there. She said her feet had become extremely cold and she was worried for her safety.
Even so, she said she was reluctant to pitch her tent on the porch of a stranger, but found the Martins more than friendly when they discovered her there in the morning. “They wondered why I just didn’t come in the house. They said the back door was open.” Sue invited her in and cooked her a hot breakfast, and even made a donation to her cause.
“I grew up in a big city,” said Lowell. “I’m not used to that kind of kindness from strangers.” She said the gesture, and the warm-up, gave her the spirit to finish her quest, and finish she did, about 3:00 p.m., on Wednesday afternoon. She pulled into Bay View to loud cheers from about a dozen other participants who had come to the lodge to be on hand for the finish.
