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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway
Every year in the first week of June, around 200 adventurous athletes from around the world flock to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to participate in the exotic Spitsbergen Marathon.
Competitive running in polar bear territory The Spitsbergen Marathon is probably the only marathon in the world where outrunning a polar bear is more important than outrunning your opponents. By Magnus Nygren Syversen and Astrid Eriksson | Photos: Spitsbergen Marathon
Every year in the first week of June, around 200 adventurous athletes from around the world flock to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to participate in the exotic Spitsbergen Marathon. This year, the Marathon takes place on 6 June and will mark the 21th anniversary of one of the world’s most extraordinary experiences in competitive running. “We have had participants from 22 countries. Many of them travel the world to compete in marathons, while gathering stamps for their passports. They are a different kind of breed, and the Spitsbergen Marathon is an important part of the journey for them,” says Silje M. Hagen, Manager at Spitsbergen Marathon. Starting and ending in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, the course sends the participants through a harsh
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but beautiful Arctic landscape. Despite the incomparable nature of the marathon itself, one aspect that stands out for most is undoubtedly the legitimate risk of running into a polar bear along the course. “That is something you definitely will not get anywhere else, and in itself a reason to participate for many of our runners,” says Hagen. She points out that while some of the runners are more worried than others, there has not been an incident where polar bears have wandered onto the course. But the organisers take no risks. “We have polar bear guards on ATVs, armed with rifles, spread out along the course,” Hagen asserts. Though growing in stature, the Spitsbergen Marathon has always been the little brother of the Svalbard Skimaraton. As it is the last race of the cross country sea-
son, over 800 skiers, including top athletes like Therese Johaug and Eldar Rønning, will flood Longyearbyen on 25 April anxious to set out into the vast snowy landscape, protected by polar bear guards who have exchanged ATVs for snowmobiles. “The Svalbard Skimaraton is very attractive to cross-country skiers because of its exclusive and exotic feel. It is more than just a race. It is an opportunity to experience Svalbard,” says Hagen.
For more information, please visit: www.svalbardturn.no