Yukon Arctic Ultra

Went up to the Yukon 10 yrs ago to run my first marathon, so I wanted to come back a decade later to 'check in', so to speak. I did the 100 mile version of the 2013 Yukon Arctic Ultra - there are 300 and 430 mile divisions too along with the 42km marathon and like most winter ultras you can choose to bike, ski, or complete the distance on foot. For me, YAU was not so much about the final results; it's about the experience of travelling a trail that so few people ever get to see - the course follows the Yukon Quest trail (for the marathon, on the Yukon and Takhini rivers). Of course you should expect variable footing due to snow conditions, variable weather, and cold and wind. Many marathon competitors carry a backpack to hold extra clothes and thermos, and have trained specifically on snowy trails. This is not your typical marathon. But it attracts some truly amazing and inspiring athletes from around the world; it's a well known race in Europe, and has been featured in many media programmes including TSN and CBC. Safety of the athletes is top priority. Highly recommended!

It was -40 or colder at race start. The snow machines used for support had trouble running. The marathon course is on the frozen Yukon River. This year the first 12 miles was on very soft snow. With each step you would sink up to your calves. It was almost impossible to run the course. My water bottle froze early in the race, so I was forced to eat snow. To avoid freezing my feet I wore a light, flexible snow boot. In the end I was the only competitor to finish. Everyone else quit due to exhaustion or frostbite. Because of the location, you only saw spectators at a few places on the course. Marathon registration included a great dinner the night before, and a nice tech shirt, medal and hot food at the finish. If you want a challenge, then this race is for you. Otherwise, I would not recommend running this event.