RUN ON THE WORLD’S ONLY MARATHON ICE COURSE LAID BETWEEN TWO OPPOSITE SHORES OF THE PLANET’S DEEPEST LAKE! Baikal Ice Marathon offers competitors the unique opportunity to race across the frozen waters of the largest, deepest and biotically richest fresh water lake in the world. The Marathon is a part …
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RUN ON THE WORLD’S ONLY MARATHON ICE COURSE LAID BETWEEN TWO OPPOSITE SHORES OF THE PLANET’S DEEPEST LAKE!
Baikal Ice Marathon offers competitors the unique opportunity to race across the frozen waters of the largest, deepest and biotically richest fresh water lake in the world. The Marathon is a part of a larger Lake Baikal winter games festival, the “Winteriad”, which includes also “Baikal Kamchatka” Ice Fishing and Baikal Ice Golf Tournaments, Ice Skating Races and a few other outdoor adventure events.
The surface of the frozen Lake Baikal is covered in fields of ‘hummocks’, small hills of ice rubble. Beneath the ice surface, geothermic springs and seismic activity cause localized melting that weakens the ice to form holes and cracks. Besides, every winter huge ice pressure ridges appear near the marathon course which is flat, but the surface is hard and uneven. Although it is mostly covered in a soft layer of snow, there are areas of highly polished ice that create conditions similar to an ice-rink. Strong winds may often add to the already bitingly cold temperature and provide serious resistance to progress across the Lake.
Baikal Ice Marathon is both psychologically and physically demanding. The utterly featureless landscape gives little or no sense of perspective to competitors, offering them nothing to focus on but how far they are from their goal. It is a long, cold, lonely 42.2 km trail across the barren white landscape, where progress is marked only by checkpoints positioned at 5 km intervals..
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Once in a lifetime!
Baikal Ice Marathon is a very special race. It takes place at Lake Baikal in Siberia. Runners have the choice to run either 42k (from one shore of the lake … MORE
Baikal Ice Marathon is a very special race. It takes place at Lake Baikal in Siberia. Runners have the choice to run either 42k (from one shore of the lake to the other) or 21k (finish is in the middle of the lake). Around 150 runners from all over the world take part in that race and the atmosphere is unique. Temperatures of minus 20-30 degrees Celsius make the race a very tough one and it´s very important to dress accordingly. This year there was more snow than usually which made it even harder as we had to run through snow almost all the race. The night before the race we all stayed at Baikalsk from where we were brought to the start of the race by bus (45 minutes drive). A very good breakfast was provided in the hotel. At the start we had the chance to use restrooms, to get dressed and to have a warm tea. The start was at 10.30 in the morning. Runners who want to run this race must prove that they are able to run a marathon in less than 4 hours or a half marathon in less than 2 hours. Along the course there were refreshment stations at km 7, 15 and 21, where fruits, chocolate, water and tea were offered. Due to a Siberian hurricane that came up during the race the race had to be stopped and the lake had to be evacuated. Fortunately this happened shortly after we had finished our half marathon. It was the first time that this happened and it was the 14th edition. All runners got a medal, a T-Shirt, beanie and a certificate at the Gala-Dinner in the evening. All in all a super great experience!!!