Noble effort: Palmer High junior completes Susitna 100

PALMER — Heading into his second semester of his junior year at Palmer High School, Noble Gurney felt like he needed a challenge.

Gurney submitted a petition to run the Susitna 100, one of the longest, toughest races in Alaska. In the dead of winter, 16-year-old Gurney finished the Susitna 100 in 17th place with a time of 34 hours and 18 minutes.

“I wanted to just challenge myself,” said Gurney. “The next time something bad happens in life, I can know that I’ve gone through this once before.”

Gurney is a standout cross-country runner for the Moose during the fall, but had never competed in a race as long as 100 miles. After finishing the Susitna 100 and earning a belt buckle only given to finishers, Gurney wants to continue challenging himself as a runner and hopes to compete in ultramarathons, Iron Man, and run what he calls “crazy mountain races.”

“For the most part it was just pain,” said Gurney. “It was a very very hard journey to push through.”

Gurney is not the first youth to compete in the Susitna 100. Race Director Kim Kittredge said that younger athletes who want to participate must submit a petition to be able to run. While the race allows runners, fat bikers and cross-country skiers to compete, Gurney was after the challenge of pushing his body to the limits.

“His first email to me was quite an impressive resume but nothing in the 100-mile range and nothing in the winter,” said Kittredge.

Kittredge and the board of directors for the Susitna 100 allowed Gurney to attempt to finish the grueling 100-mile race that saw temperatures as low as -18 on the course. Gurney enlisted the help of experienced finishers Brandon Wood and Sarah Hurkett, who would help Gurney through the 100 miles in the snow. Running the race comes with a myriad of stipulations. Racers must carry nearly 30 pounds of gear on a sled behind them including a sleeping bag, two quarts of water and up to 5,000 calories in food. Gurney said he made the poor decision of purchasing a cheap backpack just prior to heading to the start with a bladder for water that froze just miles into the race. Accustomed to leading the pack as one of the Valley’s fastest cross-country runners, Gurney’s run through 100 miles of snow was both painful and depressing.

“To withstand that much pain that much suffering for that long, that’s the accomplishment,” said Gurney. “Sarah checks her GPS and realizes we’re doing 20 minute miles and it feels like we’re running and it’s just sadness all over her face realizing how slow we’re going, and this was mile 40.”

Despite being told by multiple people that he would be unable to complete the 100-mile endurance race, Gurney trudged through with the help of his leaders and finished the race. Gurney said that his thoughts became very dark throughout the race, but the idea of proving wrong those who had doubted him helped him to continue on despite swollen ankles and sore hips.

“They really helped me a lot physically and mentally,” said Gurney.

Of the 150 people that signed up for the Susitna 100, the average age of racers is 43.

“I, from the get go really wanted to see this kid get in the race. The younger generation is kind of absent in our race,” said Kittredge. “It down totally impressed that the was able to do it.”

Gurney attempted to contact ultrarunning legend David Johnston as one of his race guides. Johnston is one of a handful of 10-time finishers, or what Kittredge calls “repeat offenders.” Kittredge allowed Gurney to run with the help of Hurkett and Wood and kept in communication with Gurney’s father throughout the race.

“I made it a mission to kind of keep an eye on that group during the nighttime hours,” said Kittredge.

On the trail, Gurney almost immediately realized that he had packed too much gear, weighing him down as he attempted to run through the snow. Connected to Wood for much of the race, Gurney’s ankle swelling forced him to run much of the tail end without tying his shoes. Despite doubters, cold temperatures, the mental strain of running 100 miles in the snow, heavy gear and swollen ankles, Gurney finished what he set out to accomplish.

Palmer High School cross-country running Coach Stacie Stigar was not surprised at seeing Gurney finish.

“His focus is running and that’s all he does,” said Stigar. “I just am constantly amazed by Noble. He just works so hard to improve himself on everything.”