Third time was the charm for an athlete from Amsterdam who travelled to compete in one of the most extreme expedition competitions: the Yukon Arctic Ultra marathon.

Olivier Vriesendorf is one of the participants who not only remained in the grueling race, but finished his 235-kilometre route on Thursday — and won.

“All the other competitors dropped out in the first two days,” Vriesendorf said.

The marathon began in Teslin, Yukon, on Feb. 1, and participants chose to do either a 235-kilometre, 350-kilometre, or 600-kilometre race, on foot, fat bike or cross-country skis.

The race is a test of mental resilience and physical endurance in often challenging weather — and participants are routinely forced to drop out.

The route, just as last year, ran from from Teslin to Faro, via Ross River with a side jaunt up the North Canol Highway and back.

Vriesendorf, who did the race on foot, said despite some competitors not finishing the 235-kilometre race, the win did not come easy. 

To compete in a marathon like the Yukon Arctic Ultra, he said an athlete needs to be able to adapt to changing conditions, and be able to push through challenging situations.

“One thing I’ve learned from all the ultras that I’ve done is that sometimes you can feel so bad,” he said. “It’s so tough going, and you’re tired and everything hurts but if you sometimes rest and take some food and some drink, and it will get better. So don’t give up too easy.”

American athlete Daniel Benhammou is competing for the seventh time, and noted it doesn’t get easier. But he said being able to visit the Yukon is worth the effort.

There are stretches where athletes are sometimes walking for almost 24 hours, he said.

“Sleeping for a couple hours and keep going. It’s going to hurt. It’s going to be uncomfortable.”

Benhammou is competing in the 350-kilometre race, on foot. As of Friday afternoon, he was in third place trailing behind Germany’s Alexander Heorniss, and Switzerland’s Michaela Senft but it didn’t seem to phase him too much. 

There have been times along the trail where he would have liked an “easy out” button, he said. But that is where his mental training kicks in, he said, keeping him moving forward. 

The race began in Teslin with 32 participants but only 13 remained as of Friday evening, said Robert Polhammer, race director.

Unusual weather conditions have forced many to tap out early, he said.

“Last year the problem was extreme cold. This year is that it’s too warm,” Polhammer said. “You can spend days grooming the trail trying to get it to settle but it won’t. It needs colder temperatures.”

Racers who compete on foot pull a sled behind them with essential gear which could weigh anywhere between 40 and 80 pounds, he said. Hauling anything that weighs that much over soft, wet snow could feel like dragging an anchor, he said.

Polhammer said the trail’s condition also created challenges for athletes competing on fat bikes. All but one rider, he said, tapped out before finishing the race.

Despite the challenges, athletes are still competing at high levels and making great time, he said.

The winner of the 600-kilometre race is expected to cross the finish line located at Johnsons Crossing sometime next week.

Polhammer said the marathon isn’t as much about winning as it is about bringing out the best in every athlete who competes.

“Friendships have been made on this race,” he said. “People met [and] got married afterwards. People quit their jobs and started a new career. It does something to people and it’s nice to see that.”