James edward cracknell, obe born 5 may 1972 is a british athlete, rowing champion and. Another yukon arctic ultra racer faces amputations due to frostbite nick griffiths said he only blames himself for injury that will cost him some toes and does not regret participating in the. Cracknell lined up for the yukon arctic ultra, a series of races on foot. The yukon arctic ultra yau sounds less like an ultramarathon than the premise for a jack london novel. James cracknell tried a slightly different approach when it came to training for sundays london marathon. He ran the london marathon on 23 april 2006, in a time of 3 hours, finishing over.
The yukon arctic ultra takes place on the yukon quest trail on frozen lakes and rivers and beautiful wilderness trails on the yukon. James cracknell, 46, rows himself into the boat race. James on his fattyred snow bike during the yukon arctic ultra photo. He then went on to complete the yukon arctic ultra, cycling over 430 miles in the race. James cracknell is a man with many sporting achievements to his name. It takes place on the trail of the yukon quest sled dog race. Just in case you are wondering, david mixed in a bit of material from last year, when he participated himself and won the 100 mile race. I did the 100 mile version of the 20 yukon arctic ultra there are 300 and 430 mile divisions too along with the 42km marathon and like most winter ultras you can choose to bike, ski, or complete the distance on foot. In 2010, james attempted to cross america by cycling, running, rowing and. James cracknell of cambridge university mens boat club. However, most of the video freatures this year and particularly the finish line in braeburn. The yukon quest is considered the toughest sled dog race in the world. James cracknell obe is an inspiring sportsman, double olympic gold medallist, athlete and adventurer.
The montane yukon arctic ultra will follow the yukon quest trail, the trail of the worlds toughest sled dog race. The montane yukon arctic ultra myau is the worlds coldest and toughest marathon and ultra. Hosted by the trail marathon association in the first weekend in august, its been called the toughest marathon in north america. James cracknell obe is an inspiring sportsman, double olympic gold medallist. C and relentless wilderness, the yua is an incredible undertaking. Whether youre coming for the marathon or just visiting whitehorse and want to run some great trails, this course has something for you.
This year 2020 athletes will choose to race the 300 mile, 100 mile or marathon distance either by snow mountain bike, cross country ski or by foot. The race takes place every february here in canadas yukon. Held in february, the arctic ultra offers four distances. Montane yukon arctic ultra whitehorse canada runultra. Nikolay pimenovyuriy pimenov six months after his cycling accident which damaged his frontal lobe see belowcracknell competed in the yukon arctic ultra. Thomas junguwe kellner in april cracknell became the highest placed briton ever in the year history of the marathon des sablesfinishing 12th. Where dog teams once slid and scrambled now human power chases up the trail. The start is in downtown whitehorse, the territorial capital, and from there the racers can choose their own adventure. Last year, after completing the desert marathon successfully, one of the competitors joked, that the next one will be the yucon arctic. The yukon arctic ultra account of his first attempt at the ra. He would finish second, before finishing the 2012 london marathon in under three hours. Yukon river trail marathon, aug 02 2020 worlds marathons. But, just six months after the accident, cracknell was back on the bike, lining up to face the yukon arctic ultra a 430mile race, on foot, on skis or by mountain bike, up the frozen yukon river in north west canada.
James cracknell, 46, rows himself into the boat race record books. The cold, hard reality of racing the yukon arctic ultra. The yukon arctic ultra is the worlds coldest and toughest ultra. The yukon arctic ultra is a series of nonstop multiday races that take place concurrently beginning in whitehorse, yukon at the beginning of february each year. Yukon arctic ultra how is yukon arctic ultra abbreviated. In 2007 the race was stopped when temperatures dropped below minus 60 celsius, and the trail covers more than 430 miles over frozen lakes, rivers, hills and mountains.
Tuesday, february 11 19c wednesday, february 12 19c thursday, february 21c. The secrets of james cracknells 40something superfitness. Since retiring from competitive rowing in 2006, james has continued to be a household name, carrying out dangerous and gruelling challenges for the bbc and discovery. He has also used his passion for adventure and fitness to front successful campaigns to get the nation moving. The yukon arctic ultra bills itself as the worlds coldest and toughest ultra. Now, for the fifth anniversary, the yukon arctic ultra is going the distance 740 kilometres, whitehorse to dawson on the heels of the yukon quest sled dog race.
The endurance athlete chats about his outstanding mental strength, marathon training and race fueling tactics. James cracknell runs london marathon eight months after brain injury. An exmarine who lost his toes to frostbite in a 300mile ultramarathon will have them served up in a bizarre cocktail. Married to tv and radio presenter beverley turner, he and his wife have three children. Another yukon arctic ultra racer faces amputations. Olympian james cracknell on the head injury that nearly killed him. Here we go, david brabec s final video from the montane yukon arctic ultra 2020. The winner of the yukon arctic ultra was the only one to. Robert pollhammer, the organizer of the yukon arctic ultra, said this is the worst incident in the races 15year history.
Just months after surviving a nearfatal cycling accident, james takes to his. Yukon arctic ultra boasts 430mile race and no prize money. Cracknell, a selfobsessed cycling addict, chose to ride the full route by mountain bike. The marathon, 100300430 mile races follow the course of the yukon quest. Ed coode replaced the injured partridge in time for the 2004 summer. Went up to the yukon 10 yrs ago to run my first marathon, so i wanted to come back a decade later to check in, so to speak. James cracknells two olympic and six world gold medals are. For 15 years, its been held in canadas yukon territory. When i finished the desert marathon marathon desables 32 last year, it made me feel so good, that i cant even describe the feeling you just have to be there to understand. Cracknell was appointed obe for services to sport in the 2005 new year honours list.
At the 2010 marathon des sables, a sixday, 156mile ultramarathon held in morocco, cracknell collapsed at the end of the fourth stage. Nick griffiths, 46, trained for more than a year for the yukon arctic ultra. It is open not only for runners but also for xcskiers and mountain bikers. Nevertheless, he refused a drip as it would incur a twohour. The montane yukon arctic ultra myau follows the yukon quest trail, the trail of the worlds toughest sled dog race.
Formerly having trained as a geography teacher, as. James edward cracknell, obe born 5 may 1972 is a british athlete, rowing champion and double olympic gold medalist and prospective conservative party politician. The marathon finishes at muktuk adventures just off the takhini river. The 100 mile racers will go from whitehorse to braeburn. Hes won two olympic gold medals, hes rowed the atlantic, he was the highest ever placed british man at the time at the marathon des sables, hes completed the yukon arctic ultra, hes walked to the south pole and hes a sub3 hour marathon runner. Despite his life changing brain injury, cracknell was back on the tracks just sixth months later, competing in the yukon arctic ultra, a race across the frozen alaskan countryside. He finished second in the 430mile race across the frozen alaskan countryside, beaten only by british cyclist alan sheldon who beat cracknells 163.
The yukon arctic ultra has a strong claim to being the worlds coldest and toughest ultra. Documentary covering the worlds coldest and toughest ultra race. James cracknells two olympic and six world gold medals are permanent reminders of a golden era in british rowing, but the multidecorated athlete is equally famous for excelling at seemingly endless extreme feats of endurance. The same year he also completed the yukon arctic ultra a 430mile bike slog across northern canada, in which he finished second. Ultra marathon adventure racing across canadas frozen north. He was married to tv and radio presenter beverley turner, he and his wife have three children. Six months after his cycling accident which damaged his frontal lobe see below, cracknell competed in the yukon arctic ultra. Just six months after the accident, cracknell somehow completed the yukon arctic ultra, cycling 430 miles across icy terrain in canada. Yukon artic ultra 300 miler race results whitehorse. Professional footballers, cyclists, marathon runners and tennis players are all getting. The race is billed as the toughest ultramarathon in the world where the temperatures.
Ultra marathon adventure racing across canadas frozen north mark hines on. We spoke to him about rowing vs running, his love of the pain cave and. Extremes of endurance james cracknell tried a slightly different approach when it came to training for sundays london marathon. Watch the coldest race on earth thursday 7th april at 9pm discovery uk for more. Quite simply the worlds coldest and toughest ultra. An exroyal marine who lost three toes to frostbite running the 300mile yukon arctic ultra marathon now wants to send them to a bar there where they serve them.
Daytime temperatures around 20 degrees are considered positively warm while overnight the temperature drops into the 30s and occasionally crosses 40. The cold, hard reality of racing the yukon arctic ultra temperatures were brutally low at this years running of the 300mile competition, and one. James edward cracknell, obe born 5 may 1972 is a british athlete, rowing champion and double olympic gold medalist. Yukon arctic ultra myau follows the yukon quest trail, the trail of the worlds toughest sled dog race. Not one to sit back and rest during his injury recovery, the extreme athlete finished.
The yukon river trail marathon course is a favourite places to run. Ultra marathon adventure racing across canadas frozen north in extremis book 3 at. This weeks episode features my interview with james cracknell. James conveys how important decision making under pressure is an integral part of the yukon artic ultra marathon. It was during this trip that james suffered a near fatal accident after being. Beginning in the town of whitehorse in canadas yukon province, participants have their. The 300 mile racers will keep on going all the way to pelly farm. Yukon river trail marathon marathon relay 20200802 to be confirmed north america canada yukon whitehorse marathon running trail relay yukon arctic ultra 300 mile 20210207 north america canada yukon whitehorse ultramarathon running snow trail solo yukon arctic ultra marathon 20210207 north america canada yukon whitehorse. Bbc world service programmes olympic athlete james cracknell. The same year he also completed the yukon arctic ultra a 430mile bike.