This week, a group of brave runners braved snowfall and subfreezing temperatures to participate in the Antarctic Ice Marathon, which was won by Irishman Sean Tobin, who, according to the race’s organisers, set a record time for the continent.
T More than 60 competitors from 20 different countries participated in the 17th competition of its kind on Wednesday at Union Glacier.
Organisers describe it as “the southernmost marathon on Earth”.
The 28-year-old athlete from Co. Tipperary, who has won Irish national titles in the 1,500- and 10,000-meter races, completed the traditional marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres in 2:53.33.
“You just sink (into the snow)… One turn I took, I just went completely legless and hit the ground. I was trying to getup and go again,” he said after finishing.
“I had to go deep inside myself (to complete the course).”
Race director Richard Donovan – himself an Irish ultra runner – said Tobin had recorded “the fastest marathon ever run in Antarctica”.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, to be able to run that fast in these kind of conditions,” he said.
“It’s like running in sand… You can’t really get a spring off it.”
With a time of 4:24.15, American Becca Pizzi took first place in the women’s race.