Who Runs at the North Pole? The Earth’s Coolest Marathon

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:53:07 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

23 brave runners tackled drifting sea ice in a race that turned the North Pole into a chill running track.

A daring marathon unfolded on the Arctic’s ice floes, drawing 23 athletes from seven nations to race on a 1,055‑metre loop frozen in the North’s cold heart. Organisers dubbed it the “world’s coolest marathon”, while Danish champion Rikke Dam and Chinese winner Wang Shengxian clocked the final times. Competitors wore thermal gear and life vests, and the event highlighted the resilience of sport in extreme conditions.

Who Runs at the North Pole? The Earth’s Coolest Marathon

23 runners from 7 countries gathered for a marathon on the drifting sea ice of the North Pole, a daring competition said to be the "world’s coolest marathon".

The racers boarded the French polar vessel Le Commandant Charcot, from which they disembarked onto a 1,055‑metre loop of ice. Every athlete wore thermal gear and life vests for safety.

Rikke Dam of Denmark captured the women’s title with a time of 6:54:02, while Wang Shengxian of China won the men’s race in 3:52:22.

The event shows how sport adapts to climate extremes, turning the frozen Arctic into a track for adrenaline‑fueled adventure.

Video edited by Ian Aikman