Runners at Sunday’s Pole of Cold–Oymyakon Marathon in Siberia, one of the world’s coldest races, crossed the finish line with their hair and eyelashes encrusted with snow and ice. The annual sub-zero event in the Oymyakonsky District of Yakutia, Russia, known as the “Cold Pole,” saw 50 bundled-up participants conquer distances from 5K to 50K, according to Yakutia Media.
In the Russian Far East, Yakutia hosts a marathon held in -54°F (-48°C)
Runners are only allowed participate after strict medical testing.
Tough people. pic.twitter.com/hX5CtvOx0P
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) January 11, 2025
Leonid Zykov of Pokrovsk, Russia won the 42.2K race; the 34-year-old has a marathon personal best of two hours and 40 minutes, and is a two-time champion of the Pole of Cold half-marathon event. “After about 23 kilometres it became really tough for me,” Zykov told the media. “My liver started hurting, so I’m running as [best] I can.”
Yukatian runner Aleksandr Moedo, 42, claimed first place in the 50K ultramarathon.
Marathon participants, ranging from age 18 to 70, raced in honour of their relatives who fought in the Great Patriotic War; this year marks the 80th anniversary of the battle’s end.
During this time of year, the frigid -50 C temperatures are all too familiar to the area; its all-time lowest temperature on record is -67.7 C in 1933. Yakutia’s regional capital Yakutsk is also the world’s coldest major city.
If you’re looking to participate in next year’s race, it isn’t as easy as just signing up. Each runner reportedly has to undergo medical testing before being cleared to race and is accompanied by medical personnel throughout the distance. Participants also drink hot beverages instead of cold ones during the race. “It’s great,” one runner, Alexei Belov, told the media. “Very calming. The nature is beautiful.”
🇷🇺The extreme race was held in Yakutia at a temperature of -50 degrees.🥶
Participants ran with portraits of their relatives who participated in the Great Patriotic War, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Victory.
Part of the funds raised from the event will be used to… pic.twitter.com/YWCeulbIek
— Tibo91 (@Tibortibor15) January 12, 2025
Despite reaching these unfathomably chilly temperatures this year, the conditions weren’t the coldest in the race’s history. In 2022, runners trudged through temperatures of -53 C, breaking the Guinness World Record for coldest marathon.
Pictured below is last year’s winner:
More results can be found here.
