Yukon Arctic Ultra racers welcome milder temperatures this year

It may be the only ultramarathon race in the world where temperatures of -10 C or -15 Care considered pleasantly mild, even balmy.

"I think now is the summer, OK?" laughsDomenico Barbalace, one of 71 competitors in this year's Yukon Arctic Ultra race, which beganThursday morning in Whitehorse.

The race that bills itself as "the world's coldest and toughest ultra" followsthe Yukon Quest sled dog trailthrough Yukon's vast and remotebackcountry, in the dead of a Northern winter.

Racers choose whether to undertake a regular trail marathon, or try something longer 160 kilometres or 480 kilometres, by foot, ski or bike.

This year's relatively mild weatherforecast is in stark contrast to last year, when racers had to contend with temperatures sometimes dropping below -40. One runner ended up in hospital, in intensive care, with severe frostbite.

Race organizer Robert Pollhammerwelcomes the gentler weather this year, but said it has brought its own challenges for example, some sections of the remote trail arewet with overflow from rivers and creeks.

"The trail is in an OK condition, Iwould say," Pollhammer said.

"Of course, it could be much better, but we would rather have a trail that is not perfect than -40 degreeswhen we start."

'It's magical'

The race has become a Yukonwinter tradition, but many of the competitors travel across the world to take part. A majority of this year's competitors are not Canadian, representing17 different nationalities. There are Australians, Americans, Britons, Japanese and Mexicans.

"Some people just enjoy it so much, they come back and back again," Pollhammer said.

"It's almost like a family feeling. Some people have been here two, three, fourtimes."

David Hirschfieldfrom Montanais an ultra aficionadobut he's never done the Yukon race. He's running the 160 kilometre route.

"I'm actually scheduled to do the BadwaterUltramarathon [in California's Death Valley] this same year, which is the hottest on Earth. So I thought I'd do the hottest and coldest in the same year, before I quit," he said.

Hirschfield expects the greatest challenges in the Arctic Ultra will be mental there are few aid stations along the rugged trail,so racers have to be self-sufficient, andwill have plenty of time alone with their thoughts.

"There's always the tendency to talk yourself into quitting, but you can't let your mind go there," he said.

Virginia Sarrazinof Whitehorsehas run the marathon before, but this year she'll tacklethe 160-kilometreroute for the first time.

"It's magical," she said of the race.

"Ijust hope I can finish it and be in good spirits when I finish it, [and] make sure that I have all my limbs. No frostbite!"