Arctic Spine Race

The Montane Arctic Spine Race is an ultra-endurance expedition through some of the harshest winter terrain on Earth.

A non-stop, self-supported foot race deep above the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden along the famous Kungsleden Trail, often called “The King’s Trail". It’s widely regarded as one of the toughest long-distance races in the world because competitors must manage not only distance and elevation but also extreme cold, wind, navigation, and full self-sufficiency.

This isn’t a typical trail run; it’s an expedition-style challenge where participants carry or pull all their own gear, sleeping kit, food, stove, safety equipment and navigate snowfields, frozen woodlands, and Arctic tundra with limited daylight in mid-winter. The race pushes both physical endurance and survival skills.

The event is in its third year and out of the 50 plus competitors that have taken part, only 3 have crossed the finish line. Jonny, Marc and Louis aim to be the first team to finish and add their names to the coverted record books.

Location: Kunglesden Trail, Sweden
Distance: 293 miles / 472 km
Start: 09:00 Feb 8th 2027, Abisko
Finish: 21:00 Feb 17th 2027, Hemavan
Time Limit: 228 hours
Temperature: -5°C / -40°C
Terrain: Arctic tundra
Daylight Hours: 8 hours
Start line Airport: Kiruna
Event Days: 9.5

TEAM UNCHARTED PERFORMANCE

Team members: Jonny Pain - Marc Rhodes - Louis Plumridge

Get to know the team: 

Louis

Best day of the week?
Saturday (or any day Man United are playing)

Marvel or DC?
Not a massive fan of the superhero world, but Marvel over DC

Bond or Bourne?
Bourne, I’ve only seen 1 Bond film 😅

First music gig you went to?
Eminem at Wembley

Beer or whisky?
Most occasions beer, but whiskey for the late night conversations around a fire

Favourite Book?
Fiction - Harry Potter or Jack Reacher series
Non-Fiction - Tools of Titans

Personal Hero?
Lots of people inspire me but I don’t have a hero. I like Matthew McConauhey’s speech “My hero is me in 10 years... that keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing”

3 Guests at a Dinner Party?
Sir Alex Ferguson, Eminem, Tom Hardy

Guilty pleasure film?
Back to the future

First Single you bought?
OPM - Heaven is a halfpipe

Sand or Snow?
I love both, but would choose snow if it was temporary and sand if it was permanent.

Budgie Smugglers or boardies?
Boardies

Marc

Best day of the week?
Sunday!

Marvel or DC?
Which one is Deadpool? That one.

Bond or Bourne?
Bond. Bourne’s a chav.

First music gig you went to?
Status Quo at Lincoln Castle…
…with my Mum.

Beer or whisky?
Depends on the setting. Whisky for enjoyment. Beer for when you just need volume…

Favourite Book?
~The Very Hungry Caterpillar~
The Chimp Paradox

Personal Hero?
Sir Ranulph Fiennes

3 Guests at a Dinner Party?
Jeremy Clarkson
Will Ferrell
Ricky Gervais

Guilty pleasure film?
Wall-E. I feel no guilt for this.

First Single you bought?
REM.

Sand or Snow?
Sand.

Budgie Smugglers or boardies?
Boardies.

JP

Best day of the week?
Sunday

Marvel or DC?
DC (Cos I’m Batman)

Bond or Bourne?
Bourne

First music gig you went to?
Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine.

Beer or whisky?
Whisky

Favourite Book?
Survival Of The Fittest - Dr Mike Stroud

Personal Hero?
Dad

3 Guests at a Dinner Party?
Sinead O’Connor, Jesus, Billy Connolly
(These are probably different to last time 🤷🏻♂️)

Guilty pleasure film?
Sweet Home Alabama
(What did I say last time? Jem And The Holograms?)

First Single you bought?
World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope

Sand or Snow?
Snow.

Budgie Smugglers or boardies?
Boardies