Race Information
Welcome to the Antarctic Polar Race®, home of the Antarctica Athletics Championships at the marathon distance.
Continental titles will be on offer in male and female categories. Participants have a choice of a 1-mile race, 10k, half-marathon, and marathon. There will also be opportunities for a bike race and a duathlon event.
Athletes will fly from Cape Town to Antarctica on December 10th, run on a groomed two-loop or four-loop course for the marathon distance, and return to Cape Town same day.
Everyone is welcome to take part, whether you are a top athlete seeking to win an Antarctica continental title, or just hoping to cover a particular distance and knock Antarctica off your bucket list.
Upon return from Antarctica, there is a second marathon event hosted at the spectacular location of Seapoint Promenade, Cape Town on December 12th. The Lion’s Head Marathon™, available at no extra cost, incorporates a six-loop course that enables athletes to complete two official marathons on two continents in the same trip. From Ice to Fire!
But that’s not all! A visit to a penguin colony near Cape Town and an exciting safari at Aquila Private Game Reserve are also part of the week’s itinerary.
Event Itinerary 2025
7th December: Arrive in Cape Town
8th December: Event Briefing
9th December: Antarctica Departure Preparations
10th December: Fly to Antarctica, Antarctic Polar Race®. Return to Cape Town.
11th December: Boulders Beach Penguin Colony , Cape Town
12th December: Lion’s Head Marathon™, Cape Town
13th December: Safari, Aquila Private Game Reserve
14th December: Return to Homeland
About Antarctica
Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth, known for its extreme cold, vast ice sheets, and unique ecosystem. It's the driest, highest, and windiest continent on earth, with temperatures that can plummet well below freezing. Antarctica has no native human population and is primarily inhabited by scientific researchers. This remote continent is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System, which promotes international cooperation for peaceful and scientific purposes. We expect our race temperatures to be -8C, though participants should be prepared for it being colder.
Environment & Safety
Operating in strict accordance with the Antarctic Treaty’s Protocol on Environmental Protection, we are committed to preserving the natural beauty and wildlife of Antarctica.
Environmental tourism guidelines ensure that we leave nothing behind but footprints and take nothing back but memories.
With our extensive knowledge and experience, we prioritize safety precautions when venturing into the frozen continent to run.
Join us on a journey to explore one of the world's last untouched wildernesses while maintaining the utmost respect for its delicate ecosystem.
Travel to the land of ice
Our event HQ is the Winchester Hotel, Sea Point Promenade.
Participants should arrive in Cape Town by 7th December.
Your flight time to Antarctica for the Antarctic Polar Race is 5 hours.
Following the trip to Antarctica, the Lion’s Head Marathon will begin on the promenade across the Winchester Hotel.
Registered participants will be given detailed advice on suitable clothing for Antarctica.
MARATHON ROUTE
The marathon course is spectacular, encompassing two loops of a 21.1 km circuit (or 4 loops of a 10.55km circuit) in the vicinity of Wolf’s Fang, Antarctica