Running Across A Frozen Lake At -50°C

Darren Grigas has gone from not being able to complete a 5km Parkrun in his 30s, to finishing the 248-mile Cape Wrath ultra, and hot footing it across Outer Mongolia’s frozen Lake Khövsgöl – he’s testament to the fact that it’s never too late to transform your life into an adventure

Ultrarunner Darren Grigas wasn’t always so active. It took being involved in a roadway pile-up in his 30s for his sedentary lifestyle to get turned around. He went from only being able to manage a mile or two, to running Parkruns, to taking on bucket-list challenges like the 156-mile Marathon des Sables, across the Sahara desert.

In the process he has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charities, clocked up thousands of training miles and is helping to push the boundaries of what is possible in an adventurous ultramarathon. In 2018 he travelled to Mongolia to run 100 miles across a frozen lake as part of a recce by the Rat Race adventure team, in temperatures as low as -50°C.

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Q: Why did you get into running again in your 30s?
A: ‘I was involved in a four-car pile-up in which the driver at fault shunted me through two more vehicles. Luckily nobody was seriously hurt, although I suffered tissue damage around my spine, which still aggravates now. It was a wake-up call to appreciate what I have and to also stay active to avoid seizing up. Running became my go-to activity and I got hooked.’

Q: What been the furthest you have run and why pick adventure ultrarunning?
A: ‘I’d only run a half-marathon and wanted to see what I was capable of. I figured if I aimed for the biggest thing I could find then everything else will become a training run. I registered for the Marathon des Sables and my life changed from then. I’ve since raced many more, the longest to date being the 248-mile Cape Wrath Ultra, across the Scottish Highlands.’

Q: In terms of the Mongolia challenge, was there anything that was surprisingly tough?
A: ‘I had to adapt to quickly to doing all the non-running things, like packing and unpacking, brushing my teeth and sorting ‘waste disposal’ in extremely cold temperatures. A bottle of water would freeze in your hand in the time it took to brush your teeth, and my fingers went numb within 30 seconds under thin gloves, so you can imagine the concerns about stopping for a pee break!’

Q: Before you did it, were you intimidated by the fact that the temperature drops to -50°C?
A: ‘I suffer from a mild case of Raynaud’s Syndrome, so my fingers sometimes go numb even in mild British temperatures, so I couldn’t even comprehend that level of cold. I contacted a couple of experienced Arctic adventurers for tips, did some research, then hoped I got it right once I got there.’

Q: Once you were on the ice, what about it stood out to you?
A: ‘The sounds from the ice were amazing and I was in total awe. The metre-thick plates many miles wide would shift and grind against each other producing an incredible booming sound, like distant cannons firing; you’d often feel it too. With every step there was a soft crunch as my carbide spikes bit into the ice; sometimes thin slices like frozen waves had risen, and would crack as you stepped through them, giving off a tuneful ‘ping, pong, pang’ sound similar to that of a massive xylophone.’

Q: What’s so dangerous about sweating at those temperatures?
A: ‘Sweat can refreeze inside your clothing at such cold temperatures, so you should try not to – it happened to me. Believe me, ice forming on the back of your neck and down your butt-crack isn’t comfy when you’ve still got 30 more miles to run!’

Q: Did you question the wisdom of running across the ice at any point, and what was it like doing a possible world first?
A: ‘I had confidence in the ice being safe(ish), the Mongolians drive across it, avoiding to the occasional open trench into the 260m depths below. It was amazing to realise what I was doing out there, I’d gaze at the surreal surroundings and think: “Wow, I’m really here doing this!”’

Q: What’s been the toughest race you’ve ever run?
A: ‘The Cape Wrath Ultra was my toughest race to date, but also the most beautiful and enjoyable; 248 miles and 11,000m of climbs. Where I live, I can go on a 30-mile run with a total ascent less than 300ft, so to cover 22-45 miles a day climbing the height of Ben Nevis was a real challenge. My nickname on camp was ‘Flatlander’; the climbs would screw me, but I’d have fresh legs on the flats!’

Q: What do you think is the main thing that holds people back from taking on these massive distances?
A: ‘A practical reason (excuse) is often cost, but you can always get more money, time is finite, and you may never get this chance again. So, say yes, then make it work. Consider it an investment in yourself. Ultra-running for many can often have a life-changing impact that’s worth every penny.’

‘Fear of failure: many assume ultra-distances are for ‘other people’ because ‘they’ could never run that far. We all started with that first mile. Only a few years ago I couldn’t run two miles without needing to stop for breath. Commit to becoming the version of you who can believe and achieve those goals. Where the mind goes, the body follows.’

Q: Is the challenge of ultrarunning as hard as it sounds, or can you break the edifice down with strategies and tactics?
A: ‘Slow down. That’s the most common piece of advice I give to people wanting to run further. I’ve seen course records smashed on a 69-mile ultra with an average pace of 8m 30s per mile. Ultra-running is a longer, slower race, so manage your fuel and hydration, trudge along at a conversational pace and you’ll get there. Consider it a mobile picnic!’

Darren Grigas is a Bio Synergy athlete – follow him at Darrengrigas.com – and if you think you have what it takes to join the same athlete program as Darren Grigas, contact MakeItHappen@bio-synergy.co.uk