[Successfully Finished the Antarctic Ice Marathon: (Possibly) the First Taiwanese Runner to Receive Both the Seven Continents Finisher and Six-Star Finisher Medals from MTT Agency]
On Monday, March 11, 2024, we participated in the Antarctica Marathon organized by MTT (Marathon Tours & Travel). We set off at 8:30 AM in Wave 2. The start line was at the Russian base on King George Island (KGI), Antarctica. The course first headed southwest to the China Base, turning around and returning to the start line—covering just over 7 km—and then headed northeast to Uruguay's Artigas Base, turning around and returning to the start, which was also a bit over 7 km. Thus, one lap was roughly 14-plus km; the full marathon consisted of 3 laps, and the half marathon ran 1.5 laps. The temperature was around 0°C with morning fog and overcast skies. Standing at the start line with my wife, I felt so thrilled knowing we had fulfilled our dream of five years (we had registered back in 2019) and were finally here to run.
This race has several unique characteristics: it is held in Antarctica; participants take Zodiac boats to the starting point; it is self-sufficient, meaning there are no aid stations along the course and you must carry all your own nutrition and hydration (though there is a portable toilet at the start); gear (especially outer gear) must pass a biosecurity check beforehand; it is a "Leave No Trace" event (strictly prohibiting leaving anything behind); and it involves environmental protection requirements unique to Antarctica (staying on the course, not disturbing wildlife like penguins and seals, not stepping on moss, and not stepping into lakes or rivers, as documentation notes it could take decades for these to recover to their original state).
This course has three distinct characteristics: muddy, hilly, and windy. Beyond the sand and gravel, much of the route is extremely muddy, and heading toward Artigas requires crossing two creeks, making it very easy for running shoes to get soaked—which is why the organizers urged everyone to bring two pairs just in case. Furthermore, after 12:00 PM, the wind gradually picked up. Facing into a strong headwind from the second turnaround point at Artigas Base back toward the finish line, my body instantly felt under-insulated as the biting, freezing wind cut through every gap, prompting me to quickly pull up my neck gaiter to stay warm. This race is a highly challenging trail run, not the road run we are so accustomed to.
Since the temperature hovered around freezing, it wasn't as cold as expected, so I switched from my original three-layer outfit to a two-layer system. However, for regular landings, cruising, and kayaking, I still opted for three layers.
The most important goal in joining this race was simply to finish, so I could earn the medals for finishing in Antarctica and completing all seven continents, as well as to capture photos of my wife and me on the course and at the start and finish lines. We therefore approached it as a fun run. Right from the start, we ran at the very back of the pack. After happily taking photos and videos, we ran toward the first turnaround point through the light mist. At this point, running up and down all the slopes still felt easy, but the road was extremely muddy from melting snow and ice; slipping was an imminent danger without careful attention, so I ran with extreme caution, focusing only on finishing smoothly. Returning to the start line from the first turnaround point (China Turn Around), we headed toward the second turnaround point (Uruguay Turn Around). Seeing the even muddier, more undulating terrain—and even having to figure out how to cross a small stream—I groaned inwardly. Fortunately, the stunning scenery provided comfort, and whenever I felt tired, I took more photos and used the opportunity to rest. Before heading back to the start line to complete the first lap, I saw my wife running toward me in high spirits. I told her she looked in great shape today (I had originally thought she would just walk a few kilometers on the course to take photos and then head back to the finish line to rest and wait for me to finish). My time for the first 1.5 laps (equivalent to a half marathon) was around 2 hours and 45 minutes; the event required marathon runners to clear the half-marathon mark within a cutoff time of 3 hours and 10 minutes.
About 1.5 laps into the second half of the marathon, the challenge really began to mount, and physical fatigue set in fast. The final half-lap heading toward the second turnaround point at Artigas Base was especially grueling; aside from jogging across the flatter stretches, I walked most of the way. I nearly stumbled several times during that stretch, a clear sign that my strength was nearly exhausted. At long last, watching the finish arch draw closer, I mustered a small final push, crossed the finish line, and let out a huge sigh of relief, thinking to myself: I finally finished! My time was 5:49:30, placing me right about the middle of the 98 full marathon participants (that's what I get for taking so many photos). Around 24 full marathon runners were marked as FNT (finished, but exceeded the 6-hour-30-minute cutoff time), and another 6 full marathoners simply downgraded to the half marathon to call it a day after finishing the first half.
My wife also completed the half marathon by walking the entire distance in 5 hours, 24 minutes, and 40 seconds. Although her time exceeded the 4-hour-30-minute cutoff time for the half marathon, I truly admire her for finishing the whole course and overcoming such challenging terrain; her spirit is truly commendable. At the same time, she has now completed half marathons across five continents, leaving only Europe and North America to achieve her goal of finishing half marathons on all seven continents.
On the evening of the fourth day after the race (March 15, 2024), an awards ceremony was held aboard the cruise ship Ocean Victory for the Seven Continents finishers and the Antarctic Ice Marathon. A total of 31 full or half marathon runners received their Seven Continents finisher medals this time. After receiving my medal, I immediately went over to the Antarctic Ice Marathon photo frame to capture a long-dreamt-of scene: holding the Six Star Finisher medal in my right hand, the Seven Continents finisher medal in my left, and the Antarctic Ice Marathon medal right in the center. To pursue this dream, I decided to take early retirement last year. After taking the photo, I gazed out at the afterglow of the sunset illuminating the distant snow-capped mountains and icebergs drifting across the water. With such breathtaking scenery paired with the jingling of medals, words spoken by my tourmate Michael echoed in my heart: "Every day is a gift." We need to experience life in the present; life is short, so do what you want to do sooner rather than later. With this stage of my dream fulfilled, I'll take a brief rest, and see you at my next dream in early June—the Spitsbergen Marathon inside the Arctic Circle.
# Marathon #153 # Overseas Marathon #28 # 92 Consecutive Months with a Full Marathon # Results: https://sportstats.one/event/antarctica-marathon-half-marathon?eventid=41802
# Huge thanks to MTT photographer Kevin McGarry for the wonderful photos + Run: Voyage 1 Race photo album: https://kevinmcgarrystudio.photoshelter.com/gallery/Marathon-Antarctica-V1-Race-Day/G0000739asF7eGVU
# Other photos shared by the MTT Team and tour members: Race Day: https://photos.app.goo.gl/erhhtBnMHQt4wkE97 Voyage 1 Excursions: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vesBue5XASoUKtXAA Buenos Aires: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jEVMKkqVSfYFXx8DA Client Photo Album – please feel free to upload any photos you wish to share with your shipmates. Please note that any of these photographs may be used for marketing purposes. https://photos.app.goo.gl/MLKWpbPGizGu5DA19
