You’ve heard of tough races. This is not that.
The 6633 Arctic Ultra is one of the most extreme ultramarathons on the planet—a race where running quickly becomes the least of your concerns. In fact, running fast is the worst thing you can do. The race takes place in northern Canada, starting in the Yukon and heading deep into the Arctic Circle where temperatures reach -40degrees celcius.
So… what actually is it?
At its core, it’s simple. The 6633 is a non-stop ultramarathon in the Arctic Circle, one of the coldest parts of the world. Runners have to be completely self-sufficient for the whole race as they cover either:
- ~120 miles (193km)
- or ~380 miles (614km)
And they do it alone.
There are no aid stations or outside help and no shortcuts. Everything you need (food, gear, survival kit) gets dragged behind you in a sled.
What makes it so brutal?
Well…the distance for one thing. But it’s not just that.
It’s everything else layered on top.
Temperatures regularly drop below –40°C (nope, it’s not a typo).
You’re moving across snow and ice.
You’re sleeping (barely) in extreme cold.
And you’re doing it for days—sometimes over a week.
Then there’s the pace.
On paper, it sounds like a walk in the park. But in reality, it’s relentless.
You need to keep moving almost constantly while you manage sleep, food, navigation and gear on the fly.
There’s no clean “rest and reset”.
You’re not really racing others (well…. not really)
That whole race thing (?) fades pretty quickly.
For most runners, the race becomes something more like:
- Managing exhaustion
- Making good decisions while completely sleep-deprived
- Keeping the body functioning in extreme cold
- Staying mentally steady when completely alone
Because for long stretches, you are.
Alone.
Why do people do it?
Good question. Same reason people do backyard ultras.
For some, it’s the challenge and testing what they’re capable of when everything is stripped back.
For others, it’s the experience.
Imagine this:
Dragging a sled across a frozen river
Under the northern lights
In complete silence
Moments that are equal parts brutal and surreal.
How one Aussie when from DNF to winning the 2019 6633 Arctic Ultra.
Does anyone actually finish?
Yes.
But not many.
Finish rates are low, and every year the race takes its toll on participants.
That’s part of the draw.
In recent years, Australians have featured strongly, with Adelaide runner Aaron Crook winning the event in 2025 and Paul Watkins in 2019 after an earlier attempt in 2017.
So is it a running race?
Technically.
But most who’ve been there will tell you the same thing:
At some point, it stops being about running at all.
Want to see what it really takes?
Read how Aussie Paul Watkins went from DNF to winning one of the toughest races on Earth.
