What to Expect From the Polar Circle Marathon in Greenland
Frozen tundra, glistening ice sheets, frigid temperatures – not the typical setting you might have in mind for a marathon course? Well I am here to tell you why the Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon in Greenland will be one of the most fun and most memorable marathon courses you will ever run, and why Greenland should be at the top of your list for an unforgettable destination “runcation”!
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Guide to the Polar Circle Marathon in Greenland
Here’s some quick facts about the Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon in Greenland!
- Date: the Polar Circle Marathon is held on the last Saturday in October, and the Polar Circle Half Marathon is held on the last Sunday in October (or complete both in the Polar Bear Challenge!)
- Location: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
- Running Organization: Albatros Adventure Marathons
- Events: Marathon and Half Marathon distances
- Cost: $2,195 EUR ($2,413 US)
- Register HERE!
The Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon aren’t just races, they are entire running destination events worth basing your entire vacation around! Something that Albatros Adventure Marathons happens to specialize in. When you sign up to run in the Polar Circle Marathon or Half, you are signing up for a whole organized tour, including running the race!
What Is It Like to Run in Greenland?
So, no thanks to the misleading name, Greenland is not green. A similarity it shares with its nearby arctic neighbor Iceland, who also has a misleading name implying ice. In fact, Greenland is icy, and Iceland is green! But back to Greenland.
You may not think of Greenland as a hot running destination. But of all the races I have completed in my life, the course of the Polar Circle Marathon is the most unforgettable and most surreal. Yes, it is cold, and dry. Greenland is basically either an ice sheet or tundra, which, in an oddly ironic way, makes it a large desert. But, with proper winter layering, you can run the Polar Circle Marathon quite comfortably. You will not have to worry about getting rained on, or snowed on, or hailed on, or caught in any other form of storm, as I have experienced in other races!
You won’t see any trees or towering mountains on the course, but the vast, ,open expanses of Greenland are what make it stand out from other half marathon courses. And those vast expanses include things you won’t see on any other marathon or half marathon course in the world – ice sheets, glaciers, and pristine arctic lakes!
A visit to Greenland is like discovering a secret the rest of the world does not know about. And that is extremely difficult in an age of social media and global sharing. But Greenland is a world apart. And getting to run a race here only heightens that sensation of experiencing something you can’t experience anywhere else in the world!
It is about seeing Greenland from a completely different perspective. The entire running tour package is centered around getting to know the people, land, and culture in a more intimate way. And then there is the one of a kind course itself.
Get to Know the Course of the Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon
The Polar Circle Marathon and Half is held in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. A little known fact about Greenland is that there are no roads between towns. But for the course of the Polar Circle Marathon and Half, you will actually run part of the course on one of the longest roads in Greenland! And the rest of the course? You will literally be running on the 2nd largest ice sheet in the world, second only to Antarctica!
The start of both the Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon takes place on the main gravel road just a couple kilometers from the mouth of the Greenland ice sheet. Runners will be shuttled over from Kangerlussuaq to the start line. Upon entering the ice sheet, runners of both the marathon and half marathon run directly on the ice sheet for an approximate 3 kilometer loop! Microspikes are mandatory to traverse this part of the course safely! Get ready to crunch your way over the frozen landscape!
After running on the ice sheet, the course loops back to the main road on which you first arrived, and passes the start line. The rest of the race is run on this main gravel road, heading back into Kangerlussuaq. You will pass miles of frozen tundra and moraines with the possibility of spotting local wildlife including reindeer, musk oxen, foxes, and Arctic hares! You will also pass deep blue lakes and the Russell Glacier!
While the remainder of the course following the ice sheet loop back towards Kangerlussuaq is an overall descent, there are plenty of hills, and it is considered to be a consistently hilly course.
The Half Marathon course finishes on the main road outside of town, on the shores of Long Lake, and finishers are then shuttled from the finish line back to their lodging in Kangerlussuaq. The full Marathon course continues all the way into the town of Kangerlussuaq, finishing at the Polar Lodge in the heart of Kangerlussuaq, to the cheers of fellow runners and locals alike! Food is served following both marathon and half marathon finishes!
What Kind of Weather Should You Expect on the Polar Circle Marathon and Half?
At start time, expect temperatures to be in the single or teens in Fahrenheit degrees. That is why proper layering is so crucial, so keep reading!
As previously mentioned, Greenland is essentially a desert, with very little precipitation. There is the chance of snow, but the biggest environmental consideration is wind! As you will see below in my gear recommendations, wind protection is the element to focus on and prepare for the most when running the Polar Circle Marathon!
What to Know About the Entire Polar Circle Running Package
As I mentioned before, the coolest thing about running the Polar Circle Marathon or Half Marathon in Greenland is getting to have an entire destination vacation experience centered on running. And that entire experience comes pre-curated and pre-organized by Albatros Adventure Marathons, so you don’t have to worry about a single thing, except which excursions you want to participate in!
For international participants, a running package is the only way currently available to participate in the Polar Circle Marathon or Half Marathon. It is a 5 day package, costing $2,195 EUR ($2,413 US). This cost does not include airfare, but does include lodging and most meals.
5 Day Polar Circle Running Package Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Copenhagen, Denmark and Arrive Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
You will depart Copenhagen, Denmark and arrive in Kangerlussuaq on the morning of Day 1. Participants will then check in to their respective lodging accommodations, and be greeted with a short welcome at each accommodation by tour leaders. The rest of Day 1 is at your own leisure to explore, or you can join one of the group leaders for a guided hike up resident Mount Hassell. A group dinner will be served on Day 1.
Day 2: Route Inspection
All runners will be transported to the start of the course on the ice sheet for route inspection. This will be the first chance to walk on the ice sheet, and also a really cool way to experience this natural wonder in an un-rushed format!
The rest of Day 2 includes a race briefing and pasta dinner.
Day 3: Marathon Race Day
If you are running in the Polar Circle Marathon, this is your race day! Half marathoners can explore on their own, take an excursion, or spend the morning at the finish line cheering on marathon finishers! Day 3 concludes with another pasta dinner served.
Day 4: Half Marathon Race Day
The different distance runners flip on Day 4. Half marathoners run their race, and marathoners are encouraged to explore or go on an excursion themselves. A celebratory dinner and awards ceremony is held on the evening of Day 4.
Day 5: Departing Greenland
On Day 5, participants will depart Kangerlussuaq and return to Copenhagen, Denmark. There is an optional extension package that can be purchased for further travel to Ilulissat, Greenland.
You can book this 5 Day Polar Circle Marathon Package HERE!
What Excursions are Available in the Polar Circle Package?
- A organized running tour of Copenhagen, Denmark, the day prior to Day 1
- Northern Lights Tour
- Russell Glacier Tour
- Tundra Safari and Kangerlussuaq Sightseeing Tour
- Ilulissat Extension Tour
*All of these tours can be booked directly through Albatros Adventure Marathons and the time of Polar Circle package purchase.
What Else to Do in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
Kangerlussuaq is home to the Kangerlussuaq International Airport, so it is the perfect place to base a couple days long trip out of. Besides running the Polar Circle Marathon or Half, there are a handful of other exciting adventures to be had in Kangerlussuaq. Many of these will be organized and planned through Albatros Adventure Marathons as part of your package, and then others will be at your own leisure.
Excursions that can be booked through Albatros Adventure Marathons at time of race package purchase:
- A organized running tour of Copenhagen, Denmark, the day prior to Day 1
- Northern Lights Tour
- Russell Glacier Tour
- Tundra Safari and Kangerlussuaq Sightseeing Tour
- Ilulissat Extension Tour
Other activities in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland:
- Hike Mount Hassell on Day 1 with group leader
- View the Kangerlussuaq Harbor (via the Kangerlussuaq Sightseeing Tour, or within walking distance from Old Camp Hostel).
- Visit the Kangerlussuaq Museum
- Witness the Northern Lights (via a Northern Lights Tour, or just watching the night sky independently – I witnessed the Northern Lights twice outside of the Old Camp Hostel where there is very little light pollution).
- Sample Local Cuisine – Restaurant Muskox is a conveniently located restaurant inside Kangerlussuaq International Airport that serves local favorites like musk oxen and reindeer.
Training for the Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon
So how do you begin training for the Polar Circle Marathon or Half Marathon? The first place to start is with a customized marathon training calendar or half marathon training calendar.
Why is it important to have a training calendar right from the start? To stay intentional about your training!
Gear Recs for Running the Polar Circle Marathon and Half
The two most important things to remember about gear recommendations for the Polar Circle Marathon and Half are layers and spikes!
You can check out this complete guide to proper active winter layering, but to summarize, you are going to want to AVOID COTTON, and LAYER with fabrics that are moisture wicking, insulating, breathable, and quick drying – like merino wool, my own personal go to for running the Polar Circle Marathon and all other cold weather races! Merino wool checks all the necessary requirements for cold weather running.
Here are a few of my favorite merino wool layering essentials, plus other recommended gear to protect against the elements:
- Icebreaker Merino wool 260 Half Zip baselayer
- Icebreaker Merino wool 175 Half Zip baselayer
- Icebreaker Merino wool 260 classic baselayer
- Icebreaker Merino wool Quantum III mid layer
- Icebreaker Merino wool 260 leggings
- Baleaf fleece lined water resistant leggings
- Icebreaker softshell jacket
- Outdoor Research Helium II ultra-lightweight waterproof and windproof jacket
- Gore tex windproof outer shell pants
- Buff or Smartwool beanie
- Brooks Glycerin running shoe
- Kahtoola Microspikes
- Hilly Twin Skin socks
An outer shell is a good recommendation to have, and whether you go with hard or soft shell is a personal preference. The most important thing is wind protection, as windy conditions are the most likely natural element you may face on the Polar Circle Marathon and Half course. That, and the small chance of snow.
Hard shells are better at protecting against the elements, but are typically less breathable. Soft shells are the flip side – more breathable, but not as protective. I personally layered with my Icebreaker merino wool base layer and midlayer, and then topped that off with my Outdoor Research Helium II jacket. This jacket literally ways only a couple ounces, and compresses down to just a handful, but it is fully waterproof and windproof.
The same practice goes for your legs as well. You will want to layer for them too. A good thermal wool or fleece base layer, like the ones recommended above, are a good place to start. Top them off with a windproof outer layer, like the Gore tex running pants above. Gore is one of the biggest names in the windproof business!
You will also want to take care of your extremities during this race. Use waterproof gloves if necessary for all or part or the race. Use a head covering like a Buff (which can also double as a neck gaiter), or Smartwool beanie. As long as whatever you use is covering your ears as well.
Now for footwear! Your choice of shoe, sock, and spikes are all very important!
Because the majority of this race is actually run on a paved road, I would suggest a road running shoe, like these Brooks Glycerins, that I ran the Polar Circle Marathon in. Even though you might think that trail runners would be helpful for the off road portion over the ice sheet, you are going to wear spikes for that (spikes are mandatory), which are going to be far more helpful and reliable than just a trail running shoe’s grip would be. Kahtoola microspikes are the best in the business, and the ones most highly recommended for the Polar Circle Marathon! You can purchase spikes during registration, and actually pick them up upon arrival in Kangerlussuaq, if you don’t want to have to travel with them.
Make sure to pair your running shoe with the right performance running sock. My go to’s are Hilly Twin Skin socks. I used to get blisters on all my long distance runs and hikes, but ever since switching to Hilly Twin Skin socks, I don’t get a single blister, no even when completing back to back races in Grand Teton National Park, or hiking 24 miles on a Rim to Rim hike in the Grand Canyon!
And now you are ready to take on one of the most adventurous races on the planet, the Polar Circle Marathon and Half Marathon in Greenland! Check out another of Albatros Adventure Marathon’s races at the Great Wall!
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