North Pole Marathon: 23 Runners Tackle Drifting Ice

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:30:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A daring marathon on the Arctic’s North Pole sees 23 international runners battle thick ice loops—winning times hail from Denmark and China.

On July 19 a unique marathon unfolded on the drifting sea ice of the geographic North Pole, drawing 23 runners from seven countries. Organisers described the event as the world’s coolest marathon, with participants running a 1,055‑metre loop under extreme blizzard conditions while wearing thermal gear and life‑vests. The winners were Denmark’s Rikke Dam in the women’s category, 6:54:02, and China’s Wang Shengxian in the men’s category, 3:52:22. The race highlighted the challenges of polar running and international cooperation.

North Pole Marathon: 23 Runners Tackle Drifting Ice

Twenty‑three athletes from seven countries gathered on the icy surface of the geographic North Pole for what organisers described as the world’s coolest marathon. The race took place on the shifting sheet of sea ice that drifts with currents, demanding a serious test of endurance, balance and survival skills.

Teams arrived on the French polar research vessel Le Commandant Charcot. After a brief briefing, runners disembarked onto the numbed plate, wearing thermal suits, reflective gear and mandatory life‑vests. They ran a 1 055‑metre loop—completing multiple laps under blizzards and the biting wind that can gust above 60 km/h.

Denmark’s Rikke Dam emerged victorious in the women’s field with a time of 6:54:02, while China’s Wang Shengxian topped the men’s race, clocking 3:52:22. The event, which highlights the extreme conditions of polar running and international cooperation, was streamed live and later archived for fans.

Video edited by Ian Aikman.