“AFTER THREE YEARS OF BRUTAL RACES, I THINK I DESERVE A HOLIDAY”

After a traumatic childhood that saw him abandoned as a baby, adventurer Marc Rhodes turned adversity into a passion for challenges, including conquering the Arctic

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Marc Rhodes has never followed an ordinary path. Abandoned at a hospital as a baby, his past remained an unshakable burden. “I came from nothing and was wanted by nobody. That hurt me, and I carried it with me for two decades - comparing myself to others and wishing who I was away because it would have been ‘easier.’ Until I began to talk about it. Work on it. And find the courage to fully own it.”

That courage has propelled Marc to thrive in the face of adversity. That unbreakable spirit saw him battle through 230km of Arctic wilderness to claim third place in the 2025 Ice Ultra by Beyond the Ultimate.

Over five days, Marc took on frozen rivers, deep snow, and temperatures plunging to -40°C - conditions that test even the strongest competitors. With just 37 runners brave enough to take on the challenge, finishing alone is a feat; standing on the podium alongside winner Alex Welch and runner-up Dave Benison is an extraordinary achievement.

For Marc, the Ice Ultra was more than a race - it’s a reflection of his journey. Men’s Fitness sat down with Marc to discuss his Arctic conquest. He began by telling us; “Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records - what happened to you is not your fault. How you respond to it is 100% your responsibility.”

Men's Fitness: How did you get into endurance racing?

Marc Rhodes: I sort of avoided running for years. I played rugby as a youngster, joined the military, and did some wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But marathons really caught my attention in 2023. I wanted to push myself further, which led me to multi-stage races like the desert, the jungle, and most recently, the Ice Ultra.

MF: That’s quite a contrast in conditions. How do you train for such extreme races?