From Polar Circle Marathon
The Polar Circle Marathon is no joke.
Any marathon is a challenge, but this one is genuinely dangerous if runners don’t take the necessary precautions.
Why? Because the race is run in the stark arctic tundra of Greenland, with a mixture of gravel, snow, and ice sheets underfoot. It’s known as “the coolest marathon on earth”, but that description makes it sound all fun and games when it’s anything but.
One thing the Polar Circle Marathon definitely is though, is beautiful.
It takes place around a very small town called Kangerlussuaq. Even for Greenland, the place is tiny, with a population of around 500 people. However, the town’s remoteness is also its attraction. It is located at the end of a deep fjord, surrounded by blankets of crisp white snow, ice sheets, glaciers, and moraine landscapes.
Take a short drive (or run) East and apart from the odd musk oxen or arctic fox, you would be totally alone in a soundless arctic wilderness.
So, why not rock up and do a marathon there? It’s the obvious thing to do, right?
The Race
Runners will be transported from Kangerlussuaq to the start line, and the race is mostly a straight line back to the town from there. The start point is at a high altitude, but the route back is all steadily downhill, with an overall descent of around 500 meters.
Runners have three options:
- Full marathon – Saturday
- Half marathon – Sunday
- Both – Saturday and Sunday
If you do both, it’s known as completing the Polar Bear Challenge.
Each race begins at 8:30 am, with a 4 hour completion time cap on the half marathon and a 7 hour completion time cap on the full marathon.
The race will start roughly 4km from the ice sheet, with runners initially running further east to do a loop around the ice cap, then running back on themselves to pass the start line again in the other direction.
The journey back to town takes participants past the Russel Glacier, and on into the tundra and arctic desert. At Long Lake, the half marathon finishes and runners will be bussed back into town taking approximately 40-45 minutes.
Full marathon runners carry on past Long Lake on their right and with Sanddrift Valley on their left. It’s possible to see reindeer and musk oxen grazing along this part of the route. Further on they will run past Sugar Loaf mountain on their left, before closing in on Kangerlussuaq and finishing outside the Polar Bear Lodge.
Food will be provided at the end of both races, with essentials also available along the route such as water, snacks, and toilet paper!
Safety
An element of this race which most other marathons don’t have to be as strict on, is safety.
Sticking to the set route is absolutely essential, because venturing off could prove fatal. This is especially true whilst on the ice cap, because it would be very easy to fall down a crevasse if straying from the pre-planned (and safety checked) route.
Then there is essential clothing and equipment.
Shoe spikes are mandatory for running on the ice, hat, gloves and all over wind protection are a must, and cotton clothing is banned due to how well it retains water. Sweaty cotton clothing in freezing temperatures can be deadly.
There are also medics on site, and their word is final. If they say you are dressed inappropriately, or they think you are unfit to continue half way through, they will pull you from the race.
This is for your own safety, because running out in this environment can be very dangerous.
How to Take Part
From Polar Circle Marathon
If all that hasn’t put you off, you may well be wondering how to take part.
What you have to understand about the Polar Circle Marathon, is that the marathon isn’t the only reason to sign up. It should be seen as a week long adventure, visiting one of the most remote corners of the world, with a marathon slotted in the middle of your trip.
The event is run by Albatross Adventure Marathons, who have similar events in other weird and wonderful locations around the world. They set the whole thing up as a sort of adventure experience for runners, and in order to take part, you will need to buy a holiday package.
This will get you a week away in Greenland, flights from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, accommodation, and all meals. However, flights to Copenhagen – which is where you must go to catch a flight to Kangerlussuaq – are not included. You can book via travel agents who package all flights in, or you can arrange them yourself.
You are looking at around £2,100 for the basic package, but there are some optional add ons if you want to do them. These are excursions during your stay such as a Northern Lights tour, meeting the sled dogs, sailing to visit the Oqaatsut settlement, and even a short extension to the trip.
The next race is on:
- 25th and 26th October, 2025
It’s an annual event though, so if you have missed it or are too close to the date to prepare, you have plenty of time to get yourself ready for next year.
Once booked on, there is a set itinerary to follow, with marathon day in the middle of the week and half marathon day the day after. The days before and after are spent on the excursions or exploring the area.