Revised - The 2022 Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra endurance race is off and running.

The race started at approximately 10:40 a.m. Thursday from Shipyards Park in Whitehorse.

The event featured a marathon to Muktuk Adventures, just off the Takhini River, a 100-mile race to Braeburn, and a 300-mile race to Mandanna Lake and back to Whitehorse. The 300 is scheduled to run until Feb. 11.

Forty athletes started the race, most of them on foot, and two on fat bikes.

The race features an international field.

Jim Ryall, 60, from Andover, England, is doing the 100-mile race on foot. This is Ryall’s first time in Canada, and in the Yukon, and he is, as he put it, “going into the deep end.

“It’s been so long coming,” stated Ryall.

“And with COVID it’s been – not on and off, but questionable. And to actually be here is something.

“It’s a long way and it’s very cold. I haven’t done anything like this cold, so we’ll see.

“But I think it’s going to be a case of go gently, look after yourself, just chew away the miles, and just let one mile turn into five, into 10, 20 and get there.”

Ryall isn’t in a hurry to finish the race.

“We’ve got 72 hours ... it’ll take how long it takes, frankly. I’m not clock-watching. I’m not racing.

“I’m doing it with a friend of mine, Keith Thompson, and we’ve known each other about 40 years. We’re gonna do it together, and we’ll finish together, and when we get there, we’ll get there,” he stated.

As for his goal, “Finish. And enjoy it. I don’t want it to be 72 hours of misery. That would just be ‘what’s the point? I don’t have to do that.’

“I’d like to have fun ... and I’d like to have time to look around as well. Just looking down at my shoes for three days is going to be miserable.”

Asked if he’s concerned about overflow, Ryall replied, “Yeah. I don’t have a bridge with me!

“Take it as it comes. And if we can’t cross over ... I’ve got my boots, if it’s over them, I’m not going to cross over. Just sit around until somebody on a snowmobile comes and sorts it.

“But I’m sure I’m not going to plow through knee-deep water just to get to the other side. That’s madness.”

Brian James is from Calgary, and is racing in his first Ultra. He’s doing the 100-mile on foot.

He’s done mostly warm races, mostly running ultras, and Ironman triathlons. Nothing like this, though.

“This is my first time pulling a sled through the countryside, so that’s new. It’s a new experience.”

James said he is feeling good going into the race.

“Really good. I think the weather’s going to be good ... I think I’m as ready as I’m gonna be.”

His goal is finishing, but “I’m hoping to do around 50 hours,” he stated.

Kevin Leahy, 36, is from Killarney, Ireland.

“This is my second time back, so just here to have a big long adventure,” stated Leahy.

“I did the 100-mile two years ago. Today I’m doing the 300-mile.”

He said he is feeling good.

“I’m excited. Happy to finally be here. Supposed to be here last year for the 430; that never went ahead, so just great to be here now and kind of realizing these dreams.”

Leahy thinks weather will be a factor.

“That changes things a little bit. Probably does make things a little more difficult, but these are always part of the challenges we knew we could be facing.

“The weather seems to be quite changeable anyways, so it’s just more change. It just means I put my snowshoes from my drop bag into my main bag. Ready for whatever comes.”

His goal is simply to “finish and enjoy it.”

PJ Toh, 46, came all the way from Singapore. He’s racing in the 300-mile on foot.

“So this is it!” he exclaimed.

Toh explained what brings him all the way to the Yukon.

“I don’t know. I guess I would like to do something crazy. I haven’t done that many winter races. I’ve done YAU before, in 2011, I’ve also done 633 on two occasions, so this is probably my fourth time in Yukon.

“I like the cold because it’s different from Singapore – it’s like plus 35C there now, and here it’s like -20C. But I guess the difference in climate is something that excites me. That’s why I’m here.”

As for how he’s feeling: “Excited. But the last time I did it in 2011, I could not finish, because the snow came, I have no snowshoes, I was miserable and I was slow and I gave up. But hopefully this time I’ll be more prepared.

“I hope the weather holds up for us and doesn’t get too cold.”

Like many others, Toh’s goal is simple.

“I think I just want to finish, and go home happy.”

For live tracking of the race, including the latest results, go to https://arcticultra.de/live-tracking-2022/