Marathon

southpole ..... January 16, 2011

Later: A Place That Wants You Dead
Earlier: Deep Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls

Sunday, Jan. 16 2011 1:11 a.m. UTC

I just got back from running in/photographing my first South Pole marathon: temperature -18F, windchill -41F. Every year there is a Christmas Day race here called the Race Around the World. The winner gets to go to McMurdo and run in a marathon there (and usually wins, since they are trained at high altitude). But flights yesterday got cancelled because all the Hercules C-130s had to go out to field camps. Since “our” runner couldn’t get to McMurdo, South Pole is having its own marathon right now… outside. Starting gun was an hour ago and they are still out running. I ran the first mile or so (lungs still hurt!) and then cut across the course to photograph the leaders and, well, everyone else — there were only ten or so of us.

It was so fun! Probably not the safest or sanest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m very glad I did it. It was made even more exciting by the fact that we raced the clock to get the first 84-string IceCube run going just before the marathon. I literally had to run to my room to get dressed and then out to the Geographic Pole marker to make it in time for the start. The Station doctor gave a short exhortation to stay safe before we started… hopefully the people still out there are being careful! The station turned out to provide water stops, sleeping bags, toilets, aid stations, cheering and photography.

There is a lot more I want to write about but I need to use the rest of the satellite pass for other things, so hello to everyone and good luck to the runners!

Later: A Place That Wants You Dead
Earlier: Deep Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls