Despite determined efforts and individual performances that did provide some genuine personal reward, the extreme conditions prevented Ed and Phil from successfully completing the first of three ultra-marathon challenges they have set themselves for 2009 — the 350 miles in eight days 6633 ultra-marathon inside the Arctic Circle in Canada that they attempted earlier this month.

Ed (Edward Chapman, 54, from Bude) had to retire on day two at around 60 miles, suffering from several nasty frostbite injuries and hypothermia incurred on the awesome Wrights Pass in the Yukon, where winds were in the region of 60 miles an hour in temperatures around -40 degrees plus wind-chill.

Phil (Phillip Howells, 61, from Ledbury in Herefordshire), withdrew on day four at the 130 miles point after also succumbing to hypothermia which meant it was not safe or possible to continue further.

Both paid tribute to the professionalism and care to safety of the competitors by organisers Likeys.com and their medical support crews, and for their excellent back-up throughout the event.

Despite the disappointment, both nevertheless gained some satisfaction from knowing that they had given of their best, retiring in circumstances really beyond their control and in the context of such fearsomely cold and demanding conditions that of the original nine starters, four had already withdrawn from the event before the first 46 mile checkpoint.

Only competitors reached the 120 mile intermediate checkpoint, and only two, one of these being Phil and the other the only person to finish the event (34 year-old Chris Todd, an aeronautical engineer from near Devizes), were able to continue past this point.

Phil is also the only person over 60 who has so far ever attempted either race distance (apparently being seen as an 'elder' by the small community at the 120 mile finish point, who could not understand how anyone, never mind an elder, would want to attempt to race in the area –— a good point, most would no doubt agree?).

This is surely one of the toughest tests of determination and mental strength that endurance athletes could aspire to, witnessed by the fact that only six people in the three year history of the event have so far made it to the 350 mile finish.

Both Ed and Phil are in agreement that they had an amazing, extremely demanding, but life-shaping experience. They said: "The fearsome cold has to be felt to be believed, it is not possible to describe it. After only a few seconds the cold bites through to the bone if you are not properly dressed; there is no margin for error or not getting everything right first time in this environment.

"It was -40 degrees C when the race started and it got to -44C a little later. It is a constant battle to keep hands and everything else warm and to ensure your face is protected, and even to see where you are going (the compulsory goggles were almost permanently frozen over with little or no visibility much of the time).

"It took the first 40 miles or so and somewhat desperate efforts to learn how to cope with it all, during which time there was at least the distraction of the awesome and beautiful Northern Lights to watch in almost disbelief at their amazing colours and movement (when goggles allowed!)."

Despite the detailed rehearsals, it quickly became clear that no amount of preparation can get you ready for the brutal cold reality, although both runners' systems and organisation thankfully worked well enough for them to just manage to get through the initial baptism of cold.

After 23 miles there was the brief opportunity for photographs at the crossing of the Arctic Circle (from which the 6633 ultra name derives — the point is at 66 degrees 33 minutes of latitude).

After retiring, both were able to travel with the support crew in vehicles to eventually reach (and walk upon) the famous Ice Road and reach the finish point on the Arctic Ocean at the remote Tuktoyatuk hamlet.

Readers interested in more details can find these on the event website http://www.6633ultra.com">www.6633ultra.com and for this event and their future challenges on Ed and Phil's own site http://www.minus2plus40.com">www.minus2plus40.com. They can also comment on Ed's blog at http://minus2plus40.blogspot.com/">http://minus2plus40.blogspot.com/.

The pair would also appreciate any donations to their chosen charity COCO — Comrades of Children Overseas — and donations can be made on-line to http://www.justgiving.com/minus2plus40">www.justgiving.com/minus2plus40.

Ed and Phil wished to record their grateful thanks to all organisations who supported their 'minus2plus40' challenge and without whom neither affording the trip nor completing the distances they did, would have been possible.