Posted: January 27, 2005

Athletics: Full Race Field for 2005 North Pole Marathon

A capacity race field of twenty-five athletes, from eight different countries, will take part in the 2005 Red Moon North Pole Marathon on April 13th. The race will take place at the drifting Russian ice base at the Geographic North Pole.

Taiwan’s Kevin Lin (27), winner of the Atacama Crossing desert race in 2004 and a top finisher in other multi-stage races such as the Marathon des Sables and Jungle Marathon, is hoping to lead the field home. However, Irishman Michael Collins (40) is certain to make a very strong challenge having previously been a co-winner of the Antarctica Marathon in 2.33 and an outright winner of the Everest Challenge Marathon in record time.

David Wakefield (34) leads a strong British contingent and will hope to make a meaningful bid for a top finish, while Takanori Matsuuchi (34) of Japan should also feature prominently. Meanwhile, former Irish Olympian and world indoor medallist Paul Donovan (41) is another that is likely to feature in the final shake-up, although he only resumed training several months ago after a lengthy layoff.

Among the competitors in the women’s race will be Michele Santilhano (34) of South Africa who is a veteran of many marathons and ultramarathons. Also a noted mountaineer, she has climbed the highest peak on each of the seven continents. Joining her will be the relative novice, Caitriona Strain (31) of Ireland, and Britons Susan Holliday (47) and Kenwynne Barber (64).

The oldest competitor in the diverse field will be 76 year-old Roa Paladugu from the USA. Paladugu is a practicing full-time physician and will run his forty-first marathon at the North Pole.

Competitors will gather at Spitsbergen Island off the course of Norway before departing to the North Pole camp by Antonov jet on April 13th. Running in temperatures of about –30C, they will negotiate a course comprising small pressure ridges and hillocks of ice. Leads, or open water, will be avoided.

This adventure marathon, which is now a member of the Association of International Marathons and Road Races (AIMS) and recognised by Guinness World Records as the northernmost marathon on earth, is experiencing a surge in demand. Entries for 2006 will open over the coming days and the 25 guaranteed places are expected to be snapped up within weeks. Last year’s event was won by Sean Burch (USA) and the contestants included polar explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

For more details, visit the race website at: www.npmarathon.com,
Or contact, Richard Donovan (Race Director).
Email: :rd@npmarathon.com
Tel: +353-91-566077 (Ireland)
Fax: +353-91-566082 (Ireland)