On Sunday, July 19th, 2026, twenty-three runners from seven countries took part in races held at the geographic North Pole, an event organizers called the "world's coolest marathon."

The competitors arrived from Norway aboard the French polar vessel Le Commandant Charcot. They ran laps on a 1,055-meter loop marked on drifting sea ice, wearing thermal gear and life vests as safety measures. Armed guards monitored the perimeter to protect against polar bears.

Denmark's Rikke Dam won the women's title with a time of 6:54:02, while Wang Shengxian of China claimed the men's race in 3:52:22. Organizers reported that the course disappeared with the ice just hours after the races concluded.

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