THE most brutal race in the world sees athletes avoid being eaten alive and freezing to death if they stop running. 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.
![[Snow-covered trees at sunset in Riisitunturi National Park, Finland.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pwaa96-sun-rays-snow-covered-877130613.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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. 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.
![[(FILES) This picture taken on March 6, 2024 shows plains above arctic circle near Kiruna in Sweden. WWF singles out Sweden and Finland for their forests exploitation and logging. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images)]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/NEW_2194774559jpg-JS965997721.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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.
![[Sunset over a snow-covered field with a cabin and forest.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/vanhaniemi-torne-valley-sweden-photo-701394592.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
