From http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/07/arctic-marathon-north-pole:
North pole marathon due to begin: racers to run 26 miles on ice at -30C
Patrick Kingsley
Wednesday 7 April 2010 22.51 BST
Two blind former servicemen, an aerospace engineer and a BBC reporter are among the 26 snow junkies and fitness freaks who were due to begin competing in the world’s coldest race, the north pole marathon.
The start of this year’s race was delayed by over nine hours due to bad weather. Braving temperatures of below -30C, contestants plan to run on ice for the entirety of the 26.2-mile course – 10 laps around the geographic north pole.
For Jamie Cuthbertson, a 49-year-old former Royal Engineers captain, it is the challenge of a lifetime. He lost his sight in 1986 when a box containing 100 explosives detonated near his face. Cuthbertson, accompanied by his guide Alex Pavanello, is raising money for the charity St Dunstan’s, where he completed a rehabilitation programme.
This Arctic marathon, the seventh so far, is the brainchild of Richard Donovan, the holder of a Guinness world record for treadmill running. Donovan was the first person to complete seven marathons on seven different continents in under seven days, and the first to run a marathon at both poles. His company Polar Running Adventures also organises the Antarctic ice marathon.
Mike Scholes, a former navy pilot who also lost his sight, is taking part, along with Arnold Oliphant and his daughter Sarah, from California, Paddy Clark, the 64-year-old BBC World Service reporter, and Brent Underdahl, a Canadian who is running dressed as Santa Claus
EMER WON!!!
Update – Thursday 8th April at 01.00 (GMT)
The last competitor has just crossed the finish line of the 2010 North Pole Marathon with Joep Rozendal from Holland winning the men’s event and Emer Dooley from Ireland taking first place in the women’s race.
The start time of the 2010 North Pole Marathon was 15.00 (GMT) with weather conditions that presented some challenges to the runners. The wind gusted to 45km/hr which had an effect on both the temperature and visibility. With wind chill, competitors were running in temperatures that dropped to -20 degrees celsius. In addition to this, the wind also led to drifting snow which made for poor contrasts and less than ideal visiblity.
Competitors are due to leave the North Pole for Longyearbyen later today and a full set of results will be posted at this time. There were no injuries at this year’s marathon and everyone is delighted to of achieved their goal of completing a marathon at the top of the world.
Results
Men’s 2010 North Pole Marathon
1st Joep Rozendale (Netherlands) 5hrs 00min 58sec
2nd Rik Vercoe (Great Britain) 5hrs 07min 30sec
3rd Yen-Po Chen (Taiwan) 5hrs 29min 47sec
Women’s 2010 North Pole Marathon
1st Emer Dooley (Ireland) 5hrs 56min 54sec
2nd Julia Tizard (Great Britain) 7hrs 31min 05sec
3rd Sarah Oilphant (USA) 7hrs 48min 14sec
WON!!!
Update – Thursday 8th April at 01.00 (GMT)
The last competitor has just crossed the finish line of the 2010 North Pole Marathon with Joep Rozendal from Holland winning the men’s event and Emer Dooley from Ireland taking first place in the women’s race.
The start time of the 2010 North Pole Marathon was 15.00 (GMT) with weather conditions that presented some challenges to the runners. The wind gusted to 45km/hr which had an effect on both the temperature and visibility. With wind chill, competitors were running in temperatures that dropped to -20 degrees celsius. In addition to this, the wind also led to drifting snow which made for poor contrasts and less than ideal visiblity.
Competitors are due to leave the North Pole for Longyearbyen later today and a full set of results will be posted at this time. There were no injuries at this year’s marathon and everyone is delighted to of achieved their goal of completing a marathon at the top of the world.
Results
Men’s 2010 North Pole Marathon
1st Joep Rozendale (Netherlands) 5hrs 00min 58sec
2nd Rik Vercoe (Great Britain) 5hrs 07min 30sec
3rd Yen-Po Chen (Taiwan) 5hrs 29min 47sec
Women’s 2010 North Pole Marathon
1st Emer Dooley (Ireland) 5hrs 56min 54sec
2nd Julia Tizard (Great Britain) 7hrs 31min 05sec
3rd Sarah Oilphant (USA) 7hrs 48min 14sec