Testing the limits of human endurance the BTU runners took on the grueling Kabla stage. Make sure to read on for the round-up and the full results from Day Two of the Ice Ultra.

Stage Two began at 07:30 (06:30 UK Time) with runners heading out from the refuge cabins at Aktse and into the frozen landscape. The first challenge they faced is arguably the toughest of the entire race, Mt Kabla. A sentinel above the frozen forest, Kabla faces the runners with an exposed 700m ascent, all the while whipping wind and spindrift contribute to poor visibility and bitter cold.

Taking in the breathtaking scenery as they crossed the summit the runners marched on, descending nearly 1000m into the snowy pine forests, where deep drifts and soft snow made for slow going.

First to cross the line into the tourist lodge at Arrenjarka was stage winner Alex O’Shea in an unbelievably quick 6hrs 12min, a full hour ahead of second-placed George Bath (7hrs 12min). Alex ran well one day one, and after James Izzard’s 8 hour time penalty, now finds himself clear at the top of the overall standings.

7 runners finished the 42km stage in under eight hours, with the leader in the Female race, Tarryn Gordon-Bennet, extending her lead at the front of the pack. She battled her way across Kabla in 7hrs 48min, taking the extreme challenge in her stride. Following a few hours behind was second-placed Emma Roper (10hrs 50min) and third-placed Olivia Keating (12hrs 10min), who found herself at the head of a mixed pack all arriving within 20 minutes of one another.

The runners embarked on Day Three at 07:30 (06:30 UK Time), heading out from the relatively sheltered pine forests in which they stayed the night, and then on to a pilgrimage across the colossal frozen lakes that make up the bulk of the terrain. Who’ll be first to make it to the Island sanctuary of Laxholmen and take the victory in stage 3? You’ll have to come back tomorrow to find out.

Head to our Instagram to see our updates and hear from Race Director Kris King by clicking the link here.

You can live track the runners as they tackle the course by clicking here.