Marianne Heading completes Yukon Arctic Ultra race

Marianne completed the gruelling race with only 50 minutes to spare

Marianne Heading from Clay Cross has become the first European woman ever to complete the Yukon Arctic Ultra race.

The 300-mile trek, in Canada, takes competitors over frozen rivers, lakes and land via a series of checkpoints.

The 40-year-old completed the course in 7 days, 23 hours, 10 minutes - just 50 minutes inside the eight-day limit.

She said: "I'm still a little bit in disbelief I actually made it to the end. For the final 34 miles I never paused."

Heading spent the time trekking over ice and through snow, pulling 35 lbs of kit behind her on a sledge.

Most of the time is spent alone and competitors grab a few hours sleep here and there along the track.

Darkest hours

Just outside the Arctic Circle, local temperatures were -17C at the start and regularly hit -35C.

When she stepped across the finish line the thermometer read a staggering -45C.

Despite that, Heading said she came through with no injuries - just a few blisters, a sore knee and sore muscles.

Temperatures at the finish line were about -45C

But she admits it was touch and go at one point.

Heading considered withdrawing from the race as sheer exhaustion set in and the darkest hours of racing, between 0300 and 0800, became more than she could bear.

She said: "I really struggled on the penultimate leg - I would have taken a way out if there had been one, I just got into an incredible low.

"At one point I sat on my sledge and cried. But I pulled myself together, decided there was no one coming to help and that I just had to get on with it.

'Big bear'

"And once the sun comes up you get a whole new lease of life."

Prior to the race, one of Heading's concerns was the possibility of hallucinations - a phenomenon well-known to extreme racers.

However, the problem was not as bad as she had feared: "A few times I saw things that weren't there - I detoured around a 'big bear' on one occasion. Afterwards, I looked back and realised it was a tree!

"Part of your brain realises they're not real but you're never quite sure."

So would she do it again?

Heading said: "While I was out there I said I would never, ever do it again.

"But then you gradually find yourself saying 'next time I'll do that differently'. So who knows?"