Taiwanese ultramarathon runner Tommy Chen (陳彥博) won the second place at the 6633 Arctic Ultra series in March, making him the first Asian to complete the full 380-mile race in the Arctic Circle in history.
Chen started in Eagle Plains and finished in Tuktoyaktuk, Canada in 7 days, 23 hours, and 19 minutes. Participants of the Arctic Ultra series have to endure extreme conditions with temperatures ranging from -30°C to -50°C, and are constantly at risk of frostbite and potential amputation.
Chen told reporters on Wednesday at a press conference that he not only had to endure freezing temperatures, fierce winds, and the rugged Arctic landscape, but also had to maintain focus on the course despite only getting one to three hours of sleep per day. Many competitors were forced to drop out due to physical exhaustion, with some suffering from hallucinations and hypothermia.
Chen said that he found it difficult to train in Taiwan, where the weather conditions aren't as extreme as the Arctic circle. In January, just before departing for the Arctic, he began towing a sledge loaded with weight and ran 401 kilometers around Taiwan to simulate the race condition, and build up both his physical endurance and mental resilience.
At the press conference, Chen shared that fear began to creep in on day one of the race. Without prior experience in such freezing conditions, he struggled to adapt to the rapid temperature drop from -9°C to -30°C within just 12 hours. On the night of day four, he noticed his body temperature dropping, and he began to feel a sharp pain in his feet.
He explained that, in such extreme cold, the cushioning in his shoes failed to function properly, and the blisters on his soles caused intense discomfort. He even came close to a mental breakdown due to the pain. Despite these dire circumstances, his willpower kept him going.
When asked about his future plans, Chen shared that he would continue touring Taiwanese campuses and giving public lectures, a mission he has been dedicated to for over 12 years. Through these talks, he hopes to inspire others with his spirit of dreaming big and seeking adventure.
Looking ahead, Chen also plans to take on even more challenges and bring back valuable knowledge from abroad to Taiwan. He concluded by stressing that Taiwan, as an oceanic island nation, should not be confined by its environment. Instead, its people should constantly explore new ideas, technologies, and cultures, while maintaining faith in themselves to achieve their goals.
According to the organizer's website, the 6633 Arctic Ultra is considered the toughest, coldest, and windiest ultramarathon in the world. The name “6633” refers to 66.33 degrees latitude, which roughly marks the location of the Arctic Circle. In this year's race, 15 athletes were qualified to compete, but only five ultimately reached the finish line.