Duluth Explorers Club: Mike Koppy, "Running the Arrowhead Ultra 135—at 75!"

Name: Duluth Explorers Club: Mike Koppy, "Running the Arrowhead Ultra 135—at 75!"
Start: 2026-03-19T19:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-03-19T20:30:00-05:00
Location: Grand Avenue Chalet, 8551 Grand Ave, Duluth, MN 55808-1118, United States

Schedule

Thu Mar 19 2026 at 07:30 pm to 08:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Grand Avenue Chalet, 8551 Grand Ave, Duluth, MN 55808-1118, United States | Duluth, MN

The Arrowhead Ultra 135. A multi-discipline race (run, ski, or bike) that makes the blood run cold—literally! The 135-mile course traverses the isolated, rugged landscape between International Falls and Lake Vermillion in the dead of winter. And this year the race dates aligned with a polar vortex (minus 30 the first night, minus 20 the second). Hermantown resident Mike Koppy tried the race last year, but fell short by just six miles. This year, at the age of 75, Mike became the first person over 70 to finish the run and the oldest ever to finish the race in any discipline. At the March meeting of the Duluth Explorers Club, Mike will recount his inspiring story of determination, resilience, and success—at an age decades older than most other Arrowhead 135 competitors!
Social time at 7 pm. Presentation begins at 7:30. All are welcome. Free event!
About our Presenter:
Retired Lake Superior College teacher Mike Koppy has been a runner all his life, but started doing Ultra Triathlons around 1990, then switched to Running Ultras in 2000. He has completed nine 200+ mile runs and holds the FKT (Fastest Know Time) for the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail and for the Wisconsin segment of the North Country Trail.