The Ice Marathon takes place in Antarctica, known to extreme athletes as the Southernmost Marathon in the world.

The Ice Marathon is an event geared towards committed runners who seek to compete in extreme conditions that guarantee once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Held in Antarctica, the Arctic Ice Marathon is known as the southernmost marathon in the world and is scheduled this year to occur on December 13th, 2022. It also gains most of its notoriety for the conditions under which the run takes place; sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice-covered parts of the course, and  certainly the location that makes this race just as much of an adventure as it is a competition.

The race is said to take place in the area below the Ellsworth Mountains, which is the highest mountain range in the arctic and just “a few hundred miles from the South Pole”. Like any marathon, the Arctic Ice race is 26.2 miles long, and what makes this run so challenging is the climate and the terrain. The cold and the underfoot terrain, which is a term used to describe course conditions, create daunting obstacles for any participant competing.

The first challenge that presents itself to participants is the cold. Antarctica’s temperature averages around 0 degrees celsius during the month of December, which is when the race takes place, but conditions have dropped to -25C in the past. Those who have previously participated in the Arctic Ice Marathon have been known to try and simulate the cold to prepare themselves for the climate by placing treadmills in freezers and running in the artificial cold.

Specific gear is also required. The Ice Marathon’s event website says that wind pants, a down jacket and insulated boats are absolutely necessary to compete in the event. Additional requirements for runners include wool socks, fleece pants and shirts, sunscreen and polarized sunglasses, along with a few more generally required items. 

The second most challenging part of the race is the underfoot terrain. The Ice Marathon website states “the course will be groomed beforehand so it should be reasonably solid, but [is] not always”. This means that though there will be no deep snow on the course, there may be slippery ice and spots where the snow is not as tightly packed, causing the terrain to be more “energy sapping”. Advice for any athlete training for the ice marathon is to practice on sand or any other irregular or uneven terrain.

The fee to enter the marathon is $19,500. This provides the runner with their choice of race – the Arctic Ice Marathon offers a half-marathon and a full one – flights, stays and meals to and from Antarctica, and additional merchandise and photographs of the experience. The entire travel and race experience is 6 days.

Designed to entice adventure-seeking athletes, the Arctic Ice Marathon course is a prerequisite to joining the 7 Continents Marathon Club, which athletes can join once they have run and completed a marathon in every continent in the world. With over 300 members, the 7 Continents Marathon Club is an amazing way to commemorate the hardwork and dedication of marathon runners.

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Ava is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois, double majoring in English and Communications. At school, she Web Writes about music for a student-run radio station. She is also an avid backpacker, which is where her passion for travel and the outdoors comes from. She is very passionate about social justice issues, specifically those involving women’s rights, and is excited to write content about social action across the globe.