Date: July 8, 2002
Release: Immediately
Contact:Curtis Lieber
191 Joy Lane
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459 USA
Tel: 1-800-770-5961
E-mail: northpole@cybertron.com
Web site: www.northpolemarathon.com
PRESS RELEASE
North Pole Marathon Races Planned
Global Expedition Adventures, Inc. has announced that the world’s first
marathon race at the Geographic North Pole will take place on April 9,
2003. Curtis Lieber, Vice President and North Pole Expedition Director
has confirmed that Richard Donovan of Galway City, Ireland, and Brent
Weigner of Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S.A. will direct the races. According to
Lieber, “We are very fortunate to have acquired the services of Richard
and Brent. Mr. Donovan won the first ever South Pole Marathon in January
of 2002 and completed the world’s first solo marathon run at the North
Pole this past April. Dr. Weigner won the South Pole Ultramarathon and
is the only person in the world to have run ultramarathons (any event
longer than the standard 26.2 mile marathon) on all seven continents.
Their combined experience ensures that we will have a quality event. ”
The marathon team will be flown from Longyearbyen, Spitzbergen
(Svalbard), Norway, to Ice Base Borneo, a Russian camp situated on the
drifting pack ice in the high Arctic Ocean Region near the Geographic
North Pole. After landing on the 14 foot thick Blue Ice Runway, the
adventurers will spend a day at Camp Borneo preparing for the race. When
the weather is clear and all systems are go, the team will board their
helicopter flight to the starting line located at the Geographic North
Pole.
After being flown to 90 degrees north latitude, runners will warm up on
the Arctic Ice Floe as they circle the world passing through all lines of
longitude. Team members will have to decide on whether they will wear
snowshoes or regular running shoes. A flagged route set up to avoid the
leads (open water) and large pressure ridges will mark the runners
course. The athletes will be able to run a half marathon (13.1 miles), a
marathon (26.2 miles), or an ultramarathon of 50 kilometres (31 miles).
As runners set out on their adventure, they will acclimate to the rough
terrain of snow, ice, small pressure ridges, and ice cracks and get used
to the minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. Experienced guides will
patrol the quiet expanse of white ice keeping their eyes open for new
leads and the rare polar bear that might threaten the runners’ safety.
After a few miles the runners will find their pace and the athletes will
be ready to make history as a new breed of Arctic explorer.
Mandatory checkpoints will be carefully placed along the course to help
insure the runners’ safety. Medical staff will be available with
emergency supplies. As runners approach the Pole, they will see the
finish line, which may have drifted during the race. The end of the
Marathon will be followed by photo sessions before the runners return to
Camp Borneo for a celebration and some rest and relaxation.
To learn more about the North Pole Marathon visit the following web:
Web site: www.northpolemarathon.com.
####
|
