SafekipediaAntarctica Marathon
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
The Antarctica Marathon may have been the first for-profit sporting event held in Antarctica. It took place on January 28, 1995. Today, this amazing race happens every year in late February or early March.
Runners cover a distance of 42.195 kilometres, or about 26 miles, on King George Island. This island is one of the largest near the Antarctic Peninsula. There is also a shorter race called a half-marathon that happens at the same time.
The race starts and ends at Bellingshausen Station, a Russian research base. The path goes by several other bases, including the Artigas Base from Uruguay, the Frei Base from Chile, and the Great Wall Base from China. The course follows a gravel road that links these stations, and it changes each year depending on weather and the needs of the bases.
History
Thom Gilligan, the founder of Marathon Tours & Travel, started the Antarctica Marathon in 1995. In 2001, because of safety issues, runners stayed on the ship’s deck instead of going ashore. The event has happened every year since then, with the 22nd race in early 2022.
Other marathons in Antarctica
McMurdo Marathon
The first marathon in Antarctica may have been near the American research base, McMurdo Station, in January 1995. This yearly marathon is free for employees and grantees of the United States Antarctic Program, United States Air Force personnel at McMurdo Station, and people from New Zealand's nearby Scott Base. Runners can choose to do a full marathon or a shorter half marathon. Some even ski the course.
South Pole
Runners have also completed full marathons at the South Pole. Both paid and free events have taken place outside the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station.
Past results
| Year | Men's Winner | Time (h:m:s) | Women's Winner | Time (h:m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 |  Matt Tyler (GBR) | 3:51:33 |  Christina Harding (USA) | 4:54:50 |
| 2008 |  Robert Celinski (POL) | 3:09:43 |  Catharina Schilder (NED) Maria Schilder (NED) | 4:21:42 |
| 2009 | Kornelis Brienne (NED) | 3:04:50 | Lisa DeYoung (USA) | 4:07:57 |
| 2010 | Robert Youngren (USA) | 3:50:02 | Kathryn Youngren (USA) | 3:58:59 |
| 2011 | Michael Hewitt (GBR) | 3:25:49 | Diana Kenna (USA) | 4:26:29 |
| 2012 |  Terence Bell (AUS) | 3:07:58 | Brooke Curran (USA) | 4:36:53 |
| 2013 | Alan Nawoj (USA) | 3:29:56 | Inez-Anne Haagen (NED) | 3:41:52 |
| 2014 | Bartosz Mazerski (POL) | 3:17:55 |  Stephanie White (NZL) | 4:23:03 |
| 2015 | Andrew Morris (USA) | 3:27:02 | Debra Patskowski (USA) | 3:57:20 |
| 2016 |  Maxime Bondue (FRA) | 3:15:24 | Sharon-Elise Ryder (AUS) | 3:38:03 |
| 2017 |  Luan Huynh (DEN) | 3:24:22 | Lesley Mettler (USA) | 4:06:14 |
| 2018 | Todd Lubas (USA) | 3:07:20 |  Wendi Campbell (CAN) | 3:58:52 |
| 2019 |  Nikolas Adair (GUA) | 3:31:01 | Suzanne McKeen (AUS) | 4:36:55 |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2021 | ||||
| 2022 (Jan) |  Priit Jaagant (EST) | 3:56:32 | Sandy Lam (USA) | 4:04:41 |
| 2022 (Feb) | Ryan Beberus (USA) | 3:58:16 | Ember Verma (USA) | 4:22:59 |
| 2024 (I) | Joseph Perry (CAN) | 4:15:11 | Katherine Shank (USA) | 4:07:32 |
| 2024 (II) | Blake LaBathe (USA) | 3:38:51 | Candice Brown (USA) | 4:25:37 |
| 2025 (I) | Nicholas Husson (USA) | 3:37:13 | Lisa Dosch (USA) | 3:55:47 |
| 2025 (II) | Terry Beacom (USA) | 4:10:40 |  Nicola Busca (CHE) | 4:17:04 |
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