Ice marathon, waiting for flying weather.
Ice marathon, waiting for flying weather.
Alex Abramov, “7 Summits Club” Mount Vinson expedition:
“…and later, after discussions with marathoners we were intrigued more and more. Why not ? And we make a decision to take part in the ice marathon.
Diary.
December, 12.
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A ninth day of our waiting. When we shall reach mountain at last? I want to note, that December, 16-th under the plan we already should come back. So we have only three days now. Certainly, it is unreal. Our team is now in the base camp under name Patriot Hills, at 800 meters. Now the weather again spoils, clouds and even snow goes, a little. In spite of everything, our team is in good mood waiting for the chance to reach Mount Vinson.
Pleasant, that in camp there are a lot of friends or just familiar people, we support good relations with personnel ÀLÅ. Now several expeditions are together with us here, altogether 32 persons. Today we treated our foreign friends with strange meal under the name “SALO” (ukrainian bacon). It was a great success ! As well as other dish: it was amazing to see their looks when they have been eating our vobla ! By the way, Êàrî has brought it from California
December, 13.
The weather under Vinson is still very bad. We can not depart to the base camp. Strangely, but now the weather is good on Patriot Hills. Just few minutes, the second plane has landed, with a command which should fly to Antarctica on December, 10. They has arrived in Punta Arenas one week after us and have caught up us. They are marathon runners ! For so-called «Ice-marathon », about 15 sportsmen should arrive to run long-distance course in this inhuman conditions . They will run around Patriot Hills - 42 kms. To run such distance on thirty-degree of frost it is not easy sport.
We can not depart to the base camp under Mount Vinson in any way. Apart that, everything is OK, our team feels quite well. Our mood is fine. We eat, we eat very well, we fry meat, a green peas, we eat a lot of different seasonings. But still want to climb.
And later, after discussions with marathoners we were intrigued more and more. Why not ? And we make a decision to take part in the ice marathon.
More about Icemarathon Athletes are making final preparations for the southernmost marathon and ultramarathon events in the world. The Antarctic Ice Marathon & 100k races will take place at 80 Degrees South in the interior of the seventh continent.
France 3 national television will be on location to film this year`s event, which includes three French partcipants with designs on completing both the 26.2 mile marathon and the 100k (62.1 miles). Henri Alain d`Andria, Philippe Moreau and Herve Taquet all finished in the top seven in this year`s North Pole Marathon and the experience should stand them in very good stead in Antarctica. Awaiting them in the frozen wasteland will be icy katabatic winds blowing from the South Pole - only several hundred miles away - and the prospect of difficult snow and ice conditions throughout the course.
Joining them on the start line of the marathon will be Tim Harris (Great Britain) who will be completing his seventh marathon in seven weeks on seven continents. Harris is currently on course to enter Guinness World Records for achieving the fastest aggregate time to run a marathon on each continent. Similarily, Noelle Sheridan (USA), the only female entrant, is set to pencil her name into Guinness World Records by completing marathons on all seven continents in seven months, which will be the shortest duration for a female to do so. Her USA compatriot, John Kraus, will also be using the Ice Marathon to achieve the distinction of running a marathon on all seven continents. Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the spectrum of marathon experience, Australia`s Gavin Melgaard will be making his marathon debut in Antarctica.
The three French participants have been preparing for the Antarctic races by running circuits in a giant freezer or on treadmills positioned in a freezer. Mike Pierce (USA) has been preparing in a similar manner for the 100k race, where he will join race director Richard Donovan (Ireland) to complete the five-person race field. Pierce contested the inaugural Antarctic Ice Marathon in January while Donovan was the only participant to successfully attempt the 100k. Unlike the marathon, a cut-off time of 24 hours is in operation for the 100k event - which is the equivalent of almost 10% of the distance to the South Pole. With 24 hours of daylight at the race location at this time of year, however, darkness won`t be an issue to the competitors.
The overall winners of both the marathon and 100k will receive Kobold expedition watches valued at over $5,000.
The Ice Marathon races, which are registered with the Association of International Marathons & Road Races (AIMS), are the only events held within the Antarctic Circle. They are promoted by Polar Running Adventures, the organiser of the annual North Pole Marathon, with all logistical support coming from Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. Interest in the December 2007 event is already high but there will be a twenty-five person field limit employed.