White Continent Marathon

Published January 29, 2020

Always been obsessed with Antarctica – ever since that first National Geographic pull-out map. It’s impossible, right? Now here TWICE. January 2019, January 2020.

Triple 8 Plan, happened soon after last year’s 50K finish. Conference room in Diego De Almagro. Watched the promo clip; idea marinated 2 weeks more in Colorado.

Antarctica was ‘impossible’. Travelling continent-to-continent AND marathoning every day? I know my abilities; I know my age. I have a job, life responsibilities. My body, older slower. But the dreams… the DREAMS are still there. Committed ‘YES’ late February 😊

Touchdown Antarctica. Different people energy, same sense of wonder. Camp set-up. Black pot, white pot discussion. Triple 8 Group pics. Race start jitters. Hurry & wait.

Late afternoon; gonna be day/night/day when some folks finish. Decision made. It’s a Go!

Chinese Base under shut-down orders. Far away their home country has a virus so… the flat part of last year’s course, now off-limit. 2020, running only the HILLY Half. 10x. TEN.

Got it. Ten times. Don’t care. I’m HERE. The journey ends tonite. I’ve done this every day, in all weather, on every continent for the past week. Ready ready to run.

High 5’s. Shout-outs. Bottom of the World.

Easy jog, slow incline outta Camp. Pushed UP UP UP the BIG HILL. Power HIKE. Breathing managed/good transition at the top; steady pace maintained. DOWN, DOWN, DOWN – full run. Easy jog up/down 2 rolling hills. Final UP to the turnaround. Mostly downhill, lap in reverse – return to CAMP, that’s ONE (only 9 to go).

SIDEWAYS rain, pelting SLEET. Most folks walking now, layered up, heads down. 5 laps done. 2 ½ hours on TRAIL. Felt STRONG ALL day. Adverse weather & TRAIL, today’s marathon equalizer – plus strategized well. Chose to POWER HIKE the BIG HILL, Lap 1 to Lap 10. Quads conserved, breathing managed. No panting, no panic. Steady.

Lost 20 minutes Lap 7, searching for my DROP BAG. Moved; tarp-hidden during the sleet storm. No one knew where? Composure FAIL. Blood sugar/ENERGY off. Needed salt, swig of Coke. Body cold, mucky conditions, feet wet/right one numb. Planned a change of socks – didn’t happen. Losing light fast. Pushing forward, focused on finishing.

Less on-course penguins 2020 vs 2019 – however, SEALS this year. Up close, lumbering slow across the path near CAMP. Napping on moss; later, blubbering/rolling to the ocean. BIG. LOUD. HUGE!

Lap 10, this is IT! Same energy, same strategy – DARK now. Legs tired. No fast DOWN DOWN DOWN; slow & easy jog. Concerned I’d kick a rock, take a tumble. All self-support here. Injuries not welcome. Warm soup ahead. LAST lap. Push, push push.

7^th Place overall. Ramen noodles never tasted so good. Strongest FINISH of all 8. Group pics tomorrow – in daylight.

Warm clothes & a sleeping bag await. 50K 2019, Marathon 2020. ANYTHING is POSSIBLE! ❤️

8th Annual White Continent Marathon

King George Island, Antarctica

January 29, 2020

M1 Brendan Watkins Marathon 3:56:43

M2 Patrick Holcomb San Diego, CA U.S.A. Marathon 4:27:42

M3 Mika Lankila Marathon 4:56:44

M4 Kenneth Adgate Acton, MA U.S.A. Marathon 5:06:47

M5 Tom Fleming Berlin, MA U.S.A. Marathon 5:21:54

F1 Aleksandra Rzeszutko Warsaw Poland Marathon 5:43:31

M6 Keenan Haga Marathon 5:49:16