The Summer edition of the North Pole Marathon can only be described as an astonishing blend of wanderlust, exploration as well as a unique marathon experience. 91 runners from 22 different countries took several days aboard an ice breaker cruise ship departing from Lonyearbyen to reach the Geographic North Pole. Whilst extraordinary landscape and wildlife proved awe-inspiring, the lure of running on top of the world, at the North Pole was the pinnacle of this adventure.

On arrival at 90 degrees north, the marathon course was marked out under the guidance of Exploration specialists to assess the safety and stability of the sea ice, which was then secured at the perimeters by Polar Bear Guards. After the athletes donned their finest sub-zero athletic wear, they disembarked and prepared for what would be a gruelling race. The Marathon got underway at 08:48am on July 13 (UTC+2); conditions for the runners were challenging with limited visibility and a chilling wind, but this is the North Pole, so nobody expects this to be easy.  

Operating within the confines of a safe solid ice floe, runners had to complete multiple laps, occasionally stopping for hot beverages and energy snacks at the aid station. As well as ensuring they kept hydrated and topped up with nutrition, there was also a medical tent to deal with any blisters, muscle strain or injuries.  Thermal clothing goggles or sunglasses, mittens, and a good pair of running shoes were the order of the day. As if that weren’t enough, all runners must wear life vests, a mandatory safety regulation.

In the opening laps, it was Great Britain’s Oleg Polyntsev, who quickly established his dominance in the race, a lead that he was determined to sustain, he eventually won comfortably. His time was 3:43:25, impressive given the energy-sapping terrain that was hard going underfoot. As the race progressed, the morning fog cleared to reveal a beautiful polar blue sky and a little sunshine. This visibly lifted the spirits of the remaining runners, some of whom were less experienced and completing shorter distances. In the Women’s race it was Becca Pizzi from the US who took top honours in 4:46:26 in in doing so set a new event record.

One of the extraordinary aspects of this marathon, is the camaraderie, not least amplified by the bonds established in the days onboard prior to the race. With so many nations taking part, language was no barrier when supporting each other to push through the mental and physical challenges to reach the finish line.