Competitors from around the world take part in the North Pole Marathon

Tim Allman

The Marathon is considered to be one of the greatest challenges in athletics. Legend has it - it dates back to four-hundred-and-ninety BC - testing the strength and endurance of anyone taking part. There are famous marathons all around the world - including London, Boston and Tokyo. But there's also a marathon at the North Pole - as the BBC's Tim Allman explains.

Transcript

00:00The marathon is considered to be one of the greatest challenges in athletics.

00:06Legend has it they date back to 490 BC, testing the strength and endurance of anyone taking part.

00:13There are famous marathons all over the world, including here in London, Boston and Tokyo, to name a few.

00:20But there's also a marathon at the North Pole, as Tim Allman explains.

00:24You'd imagine running 26 miles or 42 kilometres would be hard enough in a normal climate.

00:36Try doing it in temperatures of minus 8 degrees Celsius.

00:40That's exactly what 91 competitors from 22 countries had to face in the annual North Pole marathon.

00:49Not a pair of shorts in sight, for obvious reasons.

00:53The course consists of snow, ice and, perhaps thanks to climate change, some slush.

01:00Refreshments are provided.

01:02This is whisky.

01:04So it all seems pretty civilised.

01:11Britain's Oleg Polintsev won the men's race in a respectable time of 3 hours, 43 minutes and 25 seconds.

01:20That was a great run.

01:21That was a great run.

01:22It was not easy, but it was a fun run, actually.

01:27I enjoyed it.

01:31America's Becca Pizzi was the first woman to complete the race in 4 hours, 46 minutes and 26 seconds.

01:39By far the hardest race I'd ever done, but I just put my head down and took one mile at

01:46a time and just tried to stay focused and in the zone and get it done.

01:49And here we are in the Arctic Ocean.

01:51It's just so beautiful.

01:52I feel so lucky to be here.

01:55A feeling that was not universally shared.

01:58Well, that was disgusting.

02:01Everyone gets a medal and, preferably, a hot drink.

02:05Tim Ullman, BBC News.

Category

Transcript

Recommended