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Pay $17,000 and You Can Run in the 'Antarctic Ice Marathon'

March 31, 2010 at 9:00 AM | by | Comments (0)

How's this for extreme sports: run a marathon in Antarctica a few hundred miles from the South Pole. In December. Plus, you'll be at an altitude of 3,000 feet and have to brave a windchill of -4 degrees. The 26.2-mile, eight-day Antarctic Ice Marathon is the southernmost marathon on Earth.

Although the December 12 marathon seems like a long ways away, now's the time to register. And you'll need a head-start to save up for the hefty price tag that's just shy of $17,000.

Marathoners will meet at Punta Arenas in Chile, and from there, a jet will bring you to the race site. The round-trip flight as well as the meals and accommodations in Antarctica are all included. But you'll have to bring your own gear to prevent freezing your bootie off.

Apparently you don't need to be a marathon veteran to give it a go. As long as you can run or walk about 26 miles comfortably, then the Antarctic Ice Marathon is doable, organizers say. Yeah, it's like a walk in the park—with sub-zero temperatures. At least there's no cut-off time, so you can hobble at your own pace. Though if you want an even bigger challenge, a 100k race will happen in the same place on December 15.

If you decide to wear out your kicks on the frozen continent, you'll likely be joined by a bunch of international runners. Last year, 19 racers from 11 countries took to the icy track. But don't expect crowds to show up and cheer you on. It'll just be you out there in the snow.

So, would you do it? Would you pay $17,000 for the opportunity to run a marathon in icy tundra?

Related Stories:
· Start Training Now for a 157-Day Hike on the Great Himalaya Trail [Jaunted]
· Extreme Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
· Antarctic Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Antarctic Ice Marathon]

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