Here they run on the sea ice – unique competition attracts elite runners

Three years ago, some 50 runners appeared in double shoes, this year there are 600 at the start. This is when the world’s only marathon on ice goes off.
– We have people from 33 different countries here today, says organizer Pontus Frank.

For most people, a marathon is a challenge in say, but it is possible to spice up the trial by running in the spring in the spring, and instead of running on asphalt running on ice. This is exactly what you do in Luleå and on Sunday the year’s competition took place. One who found it is runner Anna Morén who prepared herself properly.

It was pretty cool because by chance I found that there was a marathon on ice here in Luleå today. I got for my runs and ran in cold. On me I have thick socks, embroidered shoes, warm mittens with heat bags inside and sweater and jacket, says Anna Morén.

Despite the jersey number 112, which could mean bad luck for a shocking person, Anna aims to beat her personal best.

A mara is always a mara so it’s hard to know. But it would be fun with a person, there are no slopes to talk about so there is an opportunity for it, she says.

The only one in its kind

The competition is unique in the world by taking place on sea ice. Sea-Ice Marathon is called it and was arranged in Luleå for the first time in 2022. Behind this year’s edition which has attracted about 600 participants there is a satisfied organizer named Pontus Frank.

They probably find it exciting to run on ice, we have people from 33 different countries here today and they run on 75 centimeters ice, he says in News Morning.

The course starts from Södra harbor in Luleå and is five kilometers long. The distances are 5 kilometers, 10 kilometers, 21 kilometers and 42 kilometers.

We’ll see if anyone can beat the record from last year in three hours and twenty -eight minutes. We have really strong, elite runners here from different countries. So I actually think we have a chance to beat it this year, concludes Pontus Frank.