Antarctic Ice Marathon & Half Marathon
Adventure marathoners and ultra athletes are always looking for the next big challenge. It could be a remote desert marathon, a high altitude mountain marathon or a jungle marathon. However, mainland Antarctica represents the last frontier, the final great wilderness to be conquered. And now adventure athletes like you can do it.
On 24th November 2017 the thirteenth Antarctic Ice Marathon ® races, respectively, will take place at 80 Degrees South, just a few hundred miles from the South Pole at the foot of the Ellsworth Mountains.
This race presents a truly formidable and genuine Antarctic challenge with underfoot conditions comprising snow and ice throughout, an average windchill temperature of -20C, and the possibility of strong Katabatic winds to contend with. Furthermore, the event takes place at an altitude of 700 metres.
The Antarctic Ice Marathon is the only marathon run in the interior of the Antarctic and is organised by Global Running Adventures, the organisers of the annual North Pole Marathon ®, Volcano Marathon ® and World Marathon Challenge ®.
The four-day 2017 itinerary will see competitors fly by private jet from Punta Arenas, Chile, on 23 November to the marathon location at Union Glacier, Antarctica. A marked course of 42.2km (26.2 miles) will have been prepared in advance and snowmobile support, aid stations and medical personnel will be at hand for the duration of the race. Competitors are scheduled to return to Punta Arenas on 26 November.
The Antarctic Ice Marathon is the southernmost marathon on earth and a unique opportunity to complete a marathon that is truly worthy of the seventh continent. You can join the exclusive 7 Continents Marathon Club by combining this race with marathons on each of the other six continents. Don’t expect to run your quickest time, however, as winds can blow from the Pole at a steady 10-25 knots. Also, forget about penguins or crowds cheering you along the route – no penguins live this far south and you will have to rely upon yourself to push onward in the hushed, indomitable surroundings.
For those who prefer a half-marathon option, the Frozen Continent Half-Marathon will also be run on the day of the Marathon race. This half-marathon is your opportunity to cover 21km (13.1 miles) on the ‘white continent’ and finish the southernmost half marathon on the planet.
