Inside the most brutal race in the world where athletes risk being eaten alive and freezing to death if they stop

THE most brutal race in the world sees athletes avoid being eaten alive and freezing to death if they stop running.

Only the toughest ultramarathon runners in the world compete at the

8

8

8

8

The amazing competition sees runners take part in brutal 230km races around the globe across four different environments.

One course, known as the Jungle Ultra, takes place in the Amazon in Peru.

Another, the Mountain Ultra, sees athletes pushed to their limits in Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan.

While the Desert Ultra requires a brutal trek across the unforgiving sands of Namibia.

READ MORE IN SPORT

SKY GOODBYE

Sky Sports presenter announces he is leaving after 43 years on TV

DOUBLE

Win a Lamborghini, Urban Defender & £20k or £180k cash from just 40p with our code

Now, there is just one race left and it is arguably the most dangerous of all.

The Ice Ultra takes place in Sweden’s Arctic Circle.

Temperatures in winter often drop to below a mind-numbing -40 degrees celsius.

While there is also the risk of runners bumping into a peckish polar bear along the way.

Most read in Athletics

TRANS ROW

British Olympic swimmer begs Starmer to ban trans athletes from women’s sport

REST IN PEACE

Spectator killed after being hit by hammer as he tried to protect wife & son

ON THE MO-VE

Sir Mo Farah puts stunning eight-bedroom Surrey mansion up for sale for £6m

'BLACKMAIL'

Sir Mo Farah 'hounded for money' by man whose name he took when he came to UK

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS

The terrain is an unforgiving mix of snowfields and Arctic tundra.

But lucky athletes could be treated to a night-sky show from the Northern Lights.

8

8

8

8

The race takes place in five stages across as many days.

And there is even a Red Jersey Stage which occurs on a hairy 15km frozen LAKE.

Only 40 runners are able to take part in the Ice Ultra, with places going for £3,500 and 2026’s event already sold out.

Brit Harry Edmonds is now on the verge of becoming the youngest person ever to complete the Ultra series.

Aged just 24, he will also achieve the incredible feat of completing all four races in a single year.

It’s been a remarkable journey for someone who only started running during lockdown.

But with dangers afoot alongside the freezing temperatures and hungry hunters, the infamous Ice Ultra will not be a walk in the park.