It isn’t called the coolest challenge on earth for nothing! At temperatures of -24°C this is no ordinary run!

What to expect when running in extreme cold:
When preparing for a marathon of this kind you have a new set of hazards to consider, and be conscious of throughout your race. The conditions are harsh, and you have to keep your wits about you to ensure your safety and ultimately - your survival. The main thing on your mind is self preservation.

It’s 24 hours of sunlight, and despite the below freezing temperature, you need a factor 70 sun block to brave the rays! We started our race at 8 pm – and it’s as bright as midday in Cape Town!

Sun blindness is a real threat – it’s essential to have a spare set of sun goggles on you to replace your iced up pair every so often. Your other main concern is frostbite. At -24° it’s easy to succumb to frostbite – every so often I’d tap the top of my head, my nose and ears, and wiggle my toes, and monitor my core temperature to ensure there’s no danger.

The course itself consists only of flags set 100 metres apart, for the full 42 km course – all you see stretched in front of you is a vast expanse of snow! It’s the thrill of a lifetime.

You do however notice the distinct absence of crowd support on an event like this! And if that’s not enough, you can’t tuck into an energy bar to console yourself – they freeze solid, so that’s not an option! Better to wait for an aid station, where they serve warm energy drinks, soup, and yes - even snow :)! It’s the only source of water in the Antarctic!

The race was a dream challenge. It is a privilege to run in such a desolate but beautiful environment on a continent not ravaged by man or the developing world, a world still very much untouched by the man. There is something very powerful about running in such a pristine environment at such
temperatures and it is amazing what ordinary men can accomplish on such a harsh continent.

And to top off this amazing experience, I was thrilled to come in third overall with a time of 4.50.15hrs.

Do I recommend it? Of course!

See more pics in gallery