A nine-day race in the subfreezing Canadian Arctic

On 27 February, Aaron Crook is setting out to do what very few people have done.

The 41-year-old Adelaide dad and endurance racer will step into the subfreezing environment of Eagle Plains in the Canadian Arctic and will endeavour to continue until he’s reached a finish line – 620km away.

Aaron is competing in the 6633 Arctic Ultra, known as the toughest, coldest and windiest race on the planet.

He has nine days to complete the race – along with only 10 other participants –, traversing 80–100km a day with a sled carrying all he needs to survive the extreme climate.

For Aaron, who has also completed the famous 250km Marathon des Sables in Morocco’s Sahara Desert, the 6633 Arctic Ultra is a rare opportunity to test his perseverance (again) while raising funds for kids mental health non-profit Open Parachute.

A proud supporter of Aaron’s participation in the 6633 Arctic Ultra, Freely caught up with Aaron shortly before he departed for his trip. 

👉 Stayed tuned! We’ll be catching up with Aaron after the race to hear all about this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Freely: So, Aaron, what led you to endurance racing?

Aaron: I wanted to test the limits of what my body was capable of.

Ultra marathons are unlike any other race – they feel more like an adventure than a competition. Whether it's 50km or 500km, you're guaranteed to be completely spent by the end.

It's painful, but the mental clarity you experience deep into an ultra is unlike anything else, in my opinion.

How do you explain your love for endurance racing to your kids? What do they think of it?

My kids see me less as a runner and more as an adventurer.

I’m not sure what they’ll take away from all of this, but I hope the message is clear: you have one life and one body, so make the most of both.

What do you expect to be different to the Marathon des Sables? 

I expect the 6633 to be a much bigger beast. Unlike the Marathon des Sables, it’s a non-stop race, which makes it significantly tougher.

Add to that the fact that it’s more than twice the distance, puts it on an entirely different level.

I also anticipate the environment to be a much greater shock to the system than the Sahara was.

When did you start training for the 6633 and what did training consist of?

I’ve maintained consistent training since early 2019, but things really ramped up about eight months ago.

My training has three key components.

First, high-intensity conditioning and strength training, which I do in my home gym.

Second, long, low-intensity running sessions – often while pulling a tyre or kettlebell – ranging from three to 20 hours.

Third, KX Reformer Pilates in Brighton, which has become a crucial part of my training, providing active recovery, core strength and mobility.

‍Which particular elements are you preparing for in the 6633?

The environment is the big one – especially because it's impossible to replicate here in South Australia (it’s 42 degrees as I write this).

I've spent a lot of time researching the best layering strategy to prevent cold injuries and get me through this.

What are you most looking forward to in the 6633?

The Aurora Borealis. I've been dreaming of seeing the northern lights ever since I was a child.