The Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra calls itself “the world’s coldest and toughest ultra.”

Every February, hundreds of competitors line-up at the start in the harsh, cold conditions of northern Canada. The race cites the freezing temperatures, the challenging terrain, and the sheer long distances of the race as contributing factors for the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra to be considered the world’s toughest.

On this week’s episode of The Shakeout, we take you to the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra. This year’s race begins on February 1. We speak with the race director Robert Pollhammer, the lead medic Diane Patrick, and several competitors to uncover the allure of such an extreme challenge.