Runners take on 'world's coolest marathon' on drifting North Pole ice
23 runners from seven countries competed in a marathon at the geographic North Pole on drifting sea ice, with the course disappearing hours after the race ended.
The Arctic's geographic North Pole hosted an unusual marathon that organizers have dubbed the 'world's coolest'. Twenty-three runners from seven countries took part in the event, which took place on drifting sea ice. Competitors arrived from Norway aboard the French polar vessel Le Commandant Charcot and disembarked onto the ice to run laps on a 1,055-meter loop.
Runners wore thermal gear and life vests as mandatory safety equipment, while armed guards patrolled the perimeter to watch for polar bears. In the women's race, Rikke Dam of Denmark won with a time of 6:54:02. The men's title went to Wang Shengxian of China, who finished in 3:52:22. Organizers reported that the course disappeared with the ice just hours after the races ended, as the ice melted or broke apart.
