ANTARCTICA : Ireland’s Gary Thornton has won one of the most unique runs in the world – the Antarctic Ice Marathon.
Wrapped up warmly with layers of clothing, gloves, hats and goggles, the runners await the blasting siren marking the start of the race before heading off onto the barren track.
Ahead of them, snow, ice and freezing temperatures for one of the most unique runs in the world – the Antarctic Ice Marathon.
Fifty runners from around the world took part in the event, taking on a marked course of 42.2km (26.2 miles) at Union Glacier, Antarctica for what organisers bill as “the southern-most marathon on earthâ€.
The South Pole was only a few hundred kilometres away from the course.
Thornton won the men’s race with a time of 3 hours, 37 minutes, 13 seconds, while Poland’s Joanna Medras triumphed amongst the women runners with a time of 6:01.45.
“It was really tough. Well, it shouldn’t have been but I don’t know why, it just was,†Thornton said after the race. “I maybe over-heated a bit on the first lap. But it’s good.â€
He previously won a marathon at the North Pole.