Warwick runner completes gruelling 230km Arctic ultramarathon

In February, Lauren Gregory completed the ‘Beyond the Ultimate Ice Ultra’, which is self-sufficient race across the Arctic Circle.

The 43-year-old took on the brutal sub-zero challenge with Beyond the Ultimate, the organisation known for delivering extreme races in some of the world’s most remote environments.

Over five days, Lauren covered 230km across snow and ice, facing temperatures that can drop to -30°C.

The event is self-sufficient, with participants carrying all the kit and supplies that they need for the five-day expedition race.

Lauren is no stranger to pushing her limits. She began running for fitness, but after having her children, she explored longer distances, completing her first ultra in 2015.

“I was compelled by the feeling of being broken down and coming back stronger,” she explains.

After recovering from a stress fracture and adapting her training for menopause and arthritis, Lauren tackled the Ice Ultra with careful preparation taking her snowshoes to the beach to train.

More comfortable in the heat, the ice added an extra challenge for Lauren but that was also the appeal.

She said: "The Ice Ultra taught me that brutality and beauty can exist in the same breath."

In 2024 Lauren also took part in the Desert Ultra in Namib desert, one of the oldest and most hostile in the world.

She also completed the Highland Ultra in 2023 and describes Beyond the Ultimate events as "a combination of personal challenge, adventure, and connection with the natural world”.