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On 7th April 2007, I ran the North Pole Marathon in aid of the international development charity, CARE International UK. With the kind backing of sponsors, including many from Windle Valley Runners, the total raised is set to exceed £15,000. Race report The race starts at 03:45 am in temperatures of minus 25 deg C. I flew in with 41 other competitors overnight from Spitsbergen, and have not slept for a long time. Conditions are perfect with only a slight breeze, and the sun is low in the sky casting long shadows. Chunks of broken ice covered with wind hardened snow stretch into the distance. The horizon is level in all directions, and I cannot see more than a couple of miles due to the curvature of the earth. Floating on the ice cap, we have 12,000 feet of Arctic Ocean beneath our feet. The air tastes crisp, and the snow and ice squeaks underfoot and feels sticky in the cold. It is like another planet, and not the mother earth I am familiar with. The course is set over ten laps. The initial third is on even ice, but after heading through the camp – to enable us to pick up refreshments and get out of the cold during the race – we head into an uneven mix of soft snow and lumpy hard ice. This is tough going, and the racing snowshoes I am wearing help a lot in the early laps. The route is marked by small red flags, and meanders through the ice giving a wonderful sense of isolation. I adopt a steady, low intensity pace early on, partly to conserve energy, and partly to avoid perspiring too much as this would chill significantly later. Great care is needed to avoid frostbite. I am using a classic layering system with a thin wool base layer, thicker insulating layer and windproof outer on my legs and torso. Mittens are essential, and on my head I have a balaclava, face mask, neck gaiter, hat and goggles. The system works well, but by the end everything except the base layers is frozen solid. After four laps, the effort begins to tell and I look forward to the water, energy drinks and snacks at the camp. These give a real boost just before the difficult part of each lap. After six laps I down a fast breakfast (including porridge!) – keeping fueled is key. The final section is hard. As I tire, the snowshoes catch on uneven ice and I fall three times and often stumble heavily. Many people take their snowshoes off in the second half as the trail is established, and find it easier. I am happy to keep mine on – after snowshoe training in Oslo and Sweden I am prepared for the effort. I pick up my Union Jack in the final lap and savour the experience of running through the ice field with it, reflecting on the amazing support people have provided. The level of sponsorship is outstanding. My wife Sarah has been incredibly patient with my training, and my running friends have given fantastic support during the numerous training runs and races. All too soon, the finish line approaches … it is a journey I feel I want to continue much longer and have lost track of time. I finish in 5hr 29 min and came 14th out of the 41 runners. It is an amazing feeling, and I am lost for words when the film crew try and interview me.
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