Antarctic Ice Marathon

Course & Elevation

The Antarctic Ice Marathon is a marathon run at Union Glacier in the interior of Antarctica, around 80 degrees south, billed by its organisers as the world's southernmost marathon. It is held in December and run by the events company Runbuk; the 21st edition is on 13 December 2026. Runners fly round-trip from Punta Arenas, Chile, to the Union Glacier camp, and the three-day trip is included in the entry fee. A half marathon, the Frozen Continent Half Marathon, is run on the same day. According to the organisers the conditions underfoot are snow and ice throughout, at an altitude of 700 metres, with an average windchill of -20 °C, steady winds of 10-25 knots and the possibility of strong katabatic winds. The first Antarctic Ice Marathon was held in January 2006 in the Ellsworth Mountains foothills, and the race moved from Patriot Hills to Union Glacier in 2010. The event records are 2:53:33 for men, set by Sean Tobin in 2022, and 3:29:16 for women, set by Liesl Muehlhauser in 2024.