INUVIK - In the early morning hours Sunday, Alicja Barahona wondered if she would make it to the end of her long journey. The ultra marathon runner was 48 km outside of Inuvik, on the last leg of her 374 km journey from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk, running to raise money for the Inuvik Homeless Shelter.

Runners with the Inuvik Running Club brave frigid -35 C conditions to complete the final 30 km of ultra marathon runner Alicja Barahona's quest to raise money for the Inuvik Homeless Shelter. Barahona completed the equivalent of nine marathons, running 374 km from Inuvik to Tuk and back again in four days. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photos

Cynthia Wicks was with her at the time, supporting the runner during a dark and frigid morning - temperatures hovering around -35 C - as Barahona faced the equivalent of her ninth full marathon in four days.

"She said 'I don't know how I'm going to do this,'" Wicks said. "It's the first time I've seen someone get to that wall and hit those mental and physical challenges. It was hard for us because there was nothing we could do. It was scary. (She faced) pure exhaustion and her blood sugar levels dropping. She was just depleted of all energy."

Barahona, 57, was joined by about a dozen runners from Inuvik for her last 30 km and completed her journey Sunday afternoon, helping to raise more than $20,000 for the Inuvik Homeless Shelter in the process.

For Wicks, organizer of the Arctic Challenge - who also ran approximately 60 km with Barahona from April 6 to 10, including those last 30 - it truly showed just how incredible the human spirit can be.

"It's been amazing. It's changed a lot of people's lives, the inspiration and strength she's shown," Wicks said moments after reaching the Inuvik Legion at 4 p.m. to celebrate with about two dozen residents and her fellow runners and volunteers.

"She's a strong, amazing individual. Her character is incredible, it's been emotional. To have the support of the community, it's been great."

Runners hugged and cheered upon arriving at the Legion, chanting Barahona's name as she came out of the support van that travelled with her for every kilometre she ran.

For the Polish-born, New York-based Barahona it was a test of unimaginable endurance. For the 12 or so runners who joined Barahona to complete the final 30 kilometres, it was an opportunity to be part of something special.

Soura Rosen, who spent the final two days on the run supporting Barahona, said it was an inspiring moment to be a part of.

"We'd all take turns running with her," she said of how support crew took turns braving the cold weather to run with Barahona. "It was also really inspiring. You're watching this woman go, go, go, and you'd run with her for some time, and then get back in the car and you'd watch her and that's where it would get inspiring."

Alana Mero, town councillor and member of the Interagency Committee, said the goal of the shelter is to teach people how to overcome challenges in life and the run showed that overcoming large obstacles can be done.

"We don't have the resources that people have down south and the challenges people face here can be more life-threatening here than elsewhere," she said. "Just as the run was very hard, for some in our community life is very hard. We want to teach people to get past the barriers that are there. It takes a rare person to run to Tuk and back. Thank you for giving us your heart and soul."

Kathleen Selkirk, co-ordinator for the shelter, said she spent two days with Barahona on her trek and was in awe of the 57-year-old's determination to complete the run.

"She was just killing herself for us," Selkirk said at the celebration event. "She believed in our cause and it was amazing.

"It's an amazing thing to see people coming together for the cause."

Selkirk said the money raised will have immediate impact in keeping the shelter functioning. She said in the long run, it may have an even bigger impact because of the national and international attention the Arctic Challenge received.

Wicks said during a speech at the Legion that there are plans to make the run an annual event with hopes of attracting other ultra marathoners to the region to try their luck at Barahona's incredible achievement.

"I think it shows a lot of people, it gives them hope," she said. "She's 57 and she's run almost 400 km and (the runners are) so inspired by that and it gives them the sense they can do anything. Most of us have just run the most we've ever done. It's an incredible feeling."

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