The Antarctic Ice Marathon is run in the interior of Antarctica, not on King George Island outside the Antarctic Circle. Organized and owned by Runbuk, the event stands alongside our other world-class challenges, including the North Pole Marathon®, the Antarctic Ice Ultra®, the World Marathon Challenge® (7 Marathons 7 Continents 7 Days®).
This race presents a truly formidable and genuine Antarctic challenge with underfoot conditions comprising snow and ice throughout, an average windchill temperature of -20C, and the possibility of strong katabatic winds to contend with. Furthermore, the event takes place at an altitude of 700 meters. Don't expect to run your quickest time, however, as winds can blow from the Pole at a steady 10-25 knots. Also, forget about penguins or crowds cheering you along the route - no penguins live this far south and you will have to rely upon yourself to push onward in the hushed, indomitable surroundings.
Seven Continents
The Antarctic Ice Marathon is a unique opportunity to complete a marathon that is truly worthy of the seventh continent. You can join the exclusive 7 Continents Marathon Club by combining this race with marathons on each of the other six continents.
Half-Marathon Option
For those who prefer a half-marathon option, the Frozen Continent Half-Marathon will also be run on the day of the Marathon race. This half-marathon is your opportunity to cover 21km (13.1 miles) on the 'white continent' and finish the southernmost half marathon on the planet.
Summary Facts about the Ice Marathon
- Member of the Association of International Marathons & Distances Races.
- Recognised by Guinness World Records as the Southernmost Marathon on Earth.
- A sister event to the Antarctic Ice Ultra and the Antarctica Intercontinental Marathon (a key part of the World Marathon Challenge), all these Runbuk races are uniquely held on the Antarctic continent itself - not on the milder islands near South America, which lie outside the Antarctic Circle.
- The iconic Marathon Flame was brought to the 2012 Antarctic Ice Marathon by UNICEF ambassador Nasos Ktoridis.
- A documentary on the 2010 Antarctic Ice Marathon was nominated for an International Emmy Award.
- There have been 19 Antarctic Ice Marathon races to date.
- It's impossible to predict winning times because weather conditions and terrain are variable from one year to the next.
- The event record of men's marathon is 2:53:33, set by Sean Tobin (IRL) in 2022. The time is also an Antarctica Continental Record.
- The event record of women's marathon is 3:29:16, set by Liesl Muehlhauser (USA) in 2024.
- The event record of men's 100km is 9:20:28, set by Yusheng Ni (China) in 2024.
- The race was initially operated at Patriot Hills, Antarctica but changed to Union Glacier, Antarctica in 2010.
- In 2007, William Tan - a wheelchair competitor - completed a marathon distance on the aircraft runway.
- The oldest man to complete the Antarctic Ice Marathon is 84-year-old Roy Svenningsen (CAN) in 2019.
- The oldest woman to complete the Antarctic Ice Marathon is 69-year-old Christine Hobson (GBR) in 2022.
- Participants are eligible to join the exclusive 7 Continents Marathon Club by finishing the Ice Marathon in addition to marathons on each of the other six continents.
- The other sister race of the Antarctic Ice Marathon is the North Pole Marathon, which is the Northernmost Marathon on Earth.
- By running 7 Continents and the North Pole Marathon, you can join the Marathon Grand Slam Club.
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