Event Description
Welcome to the 10th Anniversary - 2024 White Continent Marathon & 1/2 Marathon®!
For 2024, we will once again camp overnight on King George Island, Antarctica. During the race, runners will be cheered on by penguins and seals. Following the races our runners have been able to enjoy excursions to a penguin colony, where they saw Gentoo, Adelie & Chinstrap penguins. They have also explored the nearby Russian Research base and their ornate Orthodox Church. Those options may be available in 2024 as well, time and weather permitting.
We are proud to be the Antarctic race with the most world records set at it, including: the first female hand cyclist to complete a Marathon in Antarctica (and now all 7 continents); the youngest female to complete a marathon on all 7 continents (in 2014 by a 15 year-old and again in 2015 by a 12 year-old); the youngest male to complete a marathon on all 7 continents (age 11 & age 10); the shortest number of days to complete 7 official marathons on 7 continents by a tethered group; the shortest number of days to complete 7 official marathons on 7 continents (both female & male), the shortest number of days to complete 7 official half-marathons on 7 continents (both female & male) and in 2017 the oldest male to complete a marathon in Antarctica and marathons on all 7 Continents (age 77 and age 78) and many others. And in 2020 we had the largest group of African-American runners to complete races on Antarctica (27 runners!!). It is overwhelming and extremely gratifying to see everyone accomplish their dreams at The White Continent Marathon!
The TENTATIVE dates for the 2024 WCM are: January 13 - 20, 2024.
We recommend registering as soon as possible as demand is high and spaces are going quickly.
Event Info
The 2024 White Continent Marathon & 1/2 Marathon® is the only opportunity for those who want to run a marathon in Antarctica to achieve that goal within one week's time. The other Antarctic race options require a minimum of 14 to 20 days. Also, please note that our event is only one of two known events to run on actual Antarctic land.
In addition, for those of you who are prone to sea sickness, which is a frequent occurrence when crossing the treacherous Drake Passage, there is no need to worry. We will cross the Drake Passage at a smooth and comfortable 31,000 Feet. As such, you don't need to be concerned with being sick the day prior to running the marathon, as you might if you were to boat across The Fiery Drake.
Given the tremendous success of our 2014 - 2023 events, you will not want to delay in signing up as this Adventure is surely to reach its limit quickly.
Price Info
For the 2024 White Continent Marathon & 1/2 Marathon® Adventure, the prices are as follows: Double Occupancy (you will be rooming with another person you are traveling with) - $11,350; Single Occupancy (you will have a hotel room to yourself) - $11,950.
Antarctica Information:
Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent. King George Island is one of many of Antarctica's islands just off the peninsula of Antarctica. The land that today is known as King George Island physically separated from the Antarctic Peninsula roughly 20 million years ago as a result of magmatic arc and seafloor spreading geologic processes. What is now called by some as the "South Shetland micro tectonic plate" is actually a fragment of the larger Antarctic Tectonic Plate that broke off as a result of those geologic processes. King George Island sits atop the Antarctic Continental Shelf.
King George Island, Antarctica is home to many research bases from a number of countries including The United States, Chile, China, Russia, Uruguay and others. It was host to the only rock concert performed in Antarctica by Metallica back in 2013. That concert made Metallica the only band to have performed concerts on the Original 7 Continents. The 2024 White Continent Marathon & Half-Marathon® courses run between the Chilean and Chinese research bases. Our campsite, will be set up along the course and will provide runners the opportunity to refuel during the race and, if needed, allow for a change of clothes.
