2026 Fat Pursuit: A Winter Odyssey on Bikes, Skis, and Foot

Thirteen years of pursuing culminated with the 2026 Fat Pursuit seeing a host of firsts. Particularly new this year was the addition of a 30K race for folks to test the waters of a winter challenge, be it on bike, ski, or foot, which offered a formidable experience for many newcomers.

The 200k racers had their start on Friday morning with a very contestable course that was mostly groomed but freshly covered with new snow to make conditions hard enough yet still manageable. The racers started in the dark, under lightly falling snow, for a winter odyssey through the greater Yellowstone ecosystem surrounding Island Park, Idaho. It’s perhaps the best preparation one could seek if taking on the Iditarod Trail Invitational race in Alaska, which the Fat Pursuit is also a qualifier for.

In the spirit of Friday the 13th, Jay Petervary, whose actual first name is Jason, rallied the racers at Thursday night’s racer meeting to rise to the occasion and employ the lessons and hard work already done to succeed at their 200K pursuit.

A dark thirty start of 7 a.m. saw racers rolling out of the Sawtelle Mountain Lodge parking lot in brisk single-digit temperatures.

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By any human-powered means, the Fat Pursuit is open to your winter travel preference.

Chris Mottola led the entire first half of the race.

Former Fat Pursuit 200k winner John Phelps kept the leaders in check early on.

Herman Watson not only won the 200k Foot race, but he did so completely unsupported!

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Chris Mottola stretching out his early race lead after descending Two Top Mountain.

Women’s 200K leader Katie Strempke descends Two Top Mountain.

Former Women’s Fat Pursuit champion Rebecca Rush kept Strempke within reach for much of the race. Rebecca had some tire issues late into the night, and kept her second-place position all the way to the finish.

The fabled Dr Suess trees of Two Top Mountain.

Just getting here is an accomplishment in itself.

Eventual Women’s third-place 200K finisher Mayella Krause pushes the last pitch of a somewhat socked-in crest to Two Top Mountain.

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Some years, it’s magnificent up here, but more often than not, the visibility is limited.

Aid station/checkpoint one welcomed racers at the 28-mile mark with hot ramen and hot PB&J. It’s also where racers could get to their first drop bags.

No fun being had by the race staff at all.

Aid station one also served as the location for the mandatory water boil. All 200K racers are required to boil snow, as it’s their only means of supplying themselves with water for much of the next 49 miles of course, and an essential winter survival skill needed for completing the Iditatrail.

JayP and Gabe cross-check racer positions and keep track of everyone who passes through the first aid station.

Katie Strempke maintained her lead into the night as temperatures plummeted to near zero degrees Fahrenheit.

John Phelps left aid station two in third place, 77 miles in, at 9:42 p.m.

Katie Strempke refilling with hot water at aid station two at 10:55 p.m.

John Phelps rode through the night to take the lead and finish at 5:30 a.m. with a winning time of 22 hours, 12 minutes, and 24 seconds (22:12:24).

At 8 a.m. on Saturday, 60K racers headed out into the cold, monotone gray conditions.

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Hurry back now!

30K racers started at 9 a.m. and got to see the 200K women’s winner, Katie Strempke, as they crossed paths just a few miles into their race.

The Fat Pursuit trifecta of racers.

The 13th edition also greeted its first adaptive cyclist in the 30K race.

60K racers ride over the Big Springs Bridge.

Katie Strempke took the 200K women’s win with a time of 26 hours, 26 minutes, and 57 seconds (26:26:57).

Mayella Krause being greeted by JayP for her third-place, and first-ever, finish.

Event sponsor, Oboz Footware, was on site cooking up hot chicken soup, hot dogs, and bacon for all the finishers.

200K Bike Women’s podium.

200K Bike Men’s podium.

As always, the noon toast happens at midday on Sunday, and everyone is encouraged to stop for a moment to reflect on their pursuit and raise a toast to their efforts and the community that makes this event happen.

Thanks for reading! Find the full set of results here.

Further Reading

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