We're back in Arctic Sweden for the 2nd episode in a row, but this time we're exploring the Ice Ultra, a 5-day race across the ice and snow of Swedish Lapland. There are no skis or sledges here, but snowshoes and backpacks. Competitors carry everything but their sleeping bags and camp clothes on their backs throughout, so your ability to select and manage the right kit is a big factor in whether you end up a finisher or a shivery DNF.

In this episode, Will speaks to the 2 winners of the race, and another runner who maximised their time on the course a little more, and digs into the choices they made that carried them across the snow.

Those runners are 1st male and overall winner Alex O'Shea, a record breaking Irish athlete more commonly known as the Running Fireman, 1st female Tarryn Gordon-Bennett of South Africa, and Sia Kindberg who ranks among the most infectiously positive people to chat on this podcast.

Whether you're planning a cold adventure of your own and are looking for detailed advice, or you're curious about what running 230km in the Arctic might feel like, this is the episode for you.

Support Sia's charity page here: https://www.mycause.com.au/p/313604/on-an-ultra-mission-to-rebuild-my-childhood-school-ban-bua-yang-thailand

If you're interested in taking on the Ice Ultra you can learn more and enter here: https://www.beyondtheultimate.co.uk/race/ice-ultra/

The Montane Arctic Spine is a non-stop, 293 mile (472 km) foot race along the Kungsleden Trail in Arctic Sweden. This race captures the full self-sufficient, expedition-style feel of the Spine Race as we know it, but transported into the bitter cold of the Arctic.

This year's event was the first ever edition of this race which is the first of it's kind. Athletes pull all of their kit behind them on pulks as they carve their way along the trail on backcountry skis, or snowshoes. Conditions were extremely tough with temperatures dipping below -30°c on the first day and not rising above that point throughout the rest of the race. Snow was deep enough in places that our pioneering entrants had to plough their own route through the terrain.

After 48hrs of racing only 2 athletes remained. Both went on to put in outstanding performances and both were well deserving recipients of the first-ever Arctic Spine Race finishers medals.

Those athletes were Ed Sellon and Kev Leahy who was crowned our winner.

in this episode you'll hear about their experiences in the Arctic, and a wealth of tips on how to survive whilst racing in this environment.

If you're interested in entering the event in 2025 then click the following link and register your interest today: www.thespinerace.com/race/arctic/arctic-spine

In the episode we refer to a playlist of music that Kev was listening too out there in the snow. You can find that here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/60rLcr908ONMoXrvLJ9rIa?si=10ea5bc0facd460b

In this special 'extra' episode Will chats with Jenny Hall who has just returned from completing Desert Ultra 2023, her first ever ultra-distance event.

Jenny is the Marketing Manager at BTU/Spine Race and she signed up to the Desert Ultra less than a year ago having never taken part in an event like it. In that short time, Jenny turned herself into a succesfrul ultra-runner and grabbed a finisher's medal under incredibly tough conditions in Namibia this November.

This interview represents a unique opportunity in that Will went through almost the same journey a few years ago, going from a standing start to finishing the Ice Ultra in less than 12 months. In this episode the pair discuss Jenny's experiences in Namibia and also mine into what you can expect if you sign up for a massive challenge of your own. In this thorough and frank conversation, the pair cover the challenges involved from fitting in training, researching kit, understanding nutrition, completing the race itself, and also managing the emotional come-down that hits some people afterwards.

If this episode helps a single runner to find the confidence to work towards their own epic adventure, or to overcome their own imposter syndrome then Will and Jenny will both be happy...