About the Run
The Polar Circle Marathon in Greenland has been previously held in 2001,
2002, 2005 and 2006 and the run will fulfil the requirements demanded for an Adventure
Marathon® (refer to Requirements and Conditions of an Adventure Marathon®)
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The temperature during October will certainly be cold with mild frosts expected
and the odd fall of light snow. We don't expect extreme cold or deep snow, and participants
will be able to run in normal running shoes (with plastic studs (spikes) during
the run on the Ice Cap).
The route has two wildly different characteristics. The first is 34 kilometres over
a gravel road with many moraine hills spread out between Kangerlussuaq and the Ice
Cap. The other is simply the remaining 8 kilometres that are run on the Greenlandic
Ice Cap itself.
The start is as close to the edge of the ice as practically possible at this time
of the year. The first part on the ice is technically the most demanding where the
ice can be slippery unless you are so lucky that the ice is covered by a thin layer
of fresh snow. Later we continue between enormous glacier tongues back towards Kangerlussuaq,
our goal, where the route takes us through moraine plains, tundra and artic desert.
Along the route we pass glacial lakes and waterfalls and there is a big chance to
meet musk oxen and reindeer that graze on the scattered vegetation along the route.
The first 8 kilometres as mentioned runs through a bewitching harsh ice landscape
that at its peak is 3 kilometres above sea level, here there is nothing but ice
for as far as the eye can see together with dog sled's and snow scooters that watch
over the runners. We run over crushed ice that is produced by an ice plough.
After finishing the Ice Cap section we head back towards to the starting point and
from here only a further 25 kilometres to run, here we encounter a dramatic and
undulating moraine landscape formed by glaciers and glacial tunnels. It is an incredibly
beautiful landscape that runs for many kilometres along some of the Ice Caps oldest
glaciers.
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The last stage runs through the relative flat artic desert, valleys of sand drift,
past 'Sugar Loaf (with a steep climb) and along the river back to Kangerlussuaq.
The terrain is a continuation of the previous undulating landscape but to a lesser
degree. In spite of the routes many hills there is only a climb of 200 metres during
the first 9 kilometres, where after the route falls from about 500 to about 100
metres above sea level. In general the route is very well kept. The road is fairly
even with a stabile surface without too many large stones. The territory is known
for its stabile and relatively comfortable climate where it most likely will be
part sunny and the temperature in the neighbourhood of freezing point (possibly
under). There is a little risk of an easterly, which would send a cold wind down
from the Ice Cap and increase the degree of difficulty. As far as clothing is concerned
we recommend tights and a windbreaker. We recommend starting with plenty of clothing
by the Ice Cap and there after is it possible to discard extra clothing by the stations
situated along the route. It will also be possible to leave changes of clothing
at various posts. It you are unable to run the whole 42 kilometres without resting,
it is not recommended to rest for too long in wet clothes.
There will be water stations along the route every 5 kilometres together with energy
drinks and provisions on chosen stations along the route.