Icefjord Midnight Marathon 2023

Itinerary:

1 June 2023: Copenhagen - Kangerlussuaq - Ilulissat: Town Walk

Fly from Copenhagen to Greenland in the morning. We encourage you to book a night prior to the tour starting in order to make the included flight comfortably. Upon arrival into Greenland enjoy an included tour of Ilulissat, followed by a Greenlandic buffet in the evening.

2 June 2023: Icefjord Boating, Sermermiut Hike, and Race Briefing

This morning, enjoy a light hike through one of the region's most acclaimed areas. Hike to the Sermermiut Valley, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its exceptionally beautiful nature and unique importance to glaciological science. Later in the day, embark on a boat trip through icebergs. In the evening, all participants will meet to enjoy a pasta dinner and get the race briefing. Tonight, you will also have the possibility to join an evening kayak excursion.

3 June 2023: Race Night

You have the morning and afternoon to sleep, explore, and prepare yourself for the night to come. For those who would like to get a taste of the local culture, a limited number of guests can join a "Kaffemik" excursion at the home of a local Greenlandic couple. The marathon begins at 21:00, and the half-marathon will begin at 22:30 - all races will be done by 4:00 at the latest.

4 June 2023: Ilulissat Day - Optional Excursions & Celebration Dinner

Today is a justified relaxation and recovery day. You may also use the day to explore on your own, or join one of the optional excursions on offer. In the evening, all participants will gather for the celebration dinner.

5 June 2023: Ilulissat Day - Optional Excursions And 5-Day Tour Departures

Those on the 6-day package will have one final day to enjoy the charm of Ilulissat and its surroundings. Again, you may choose to explore on your own, or if you haven't been kayaking yet, we highly recommend it! Those on the 5-day package will depart the tour today on a flight back to Copenhagen via Kangerlussuaq, which will arrive at approximately 21.30. We recommend booking extra nights in Copenhagen on this night.

6 June 2023: Ilulissat Day - Farewell Greenland

Sadly, it is time to say farewell to Ilulissat. Fly first to Kangerlussuaq in the morning. Once in Kangerlussuaq, you will board a flight back to Copenhagen that will arrive around 9:30pm. Guests are responsible for their own flights home from Copenhagen. Keep in mind that you will need time to collect your bags and check in for your new flights, and thus we don't recommend booking flights within three hours of arrival. Given the late time of our arrival, we strongly recommend booking a night in a hotel in Copenhagen and flying out the next day..

On Request bookings

Request Bookings will confirm that you have accepted our Booking Conditions.  Your booking is not however, guaranteed until our partner company confirms availability. Please expect confirmation of place within 1-3 days of making your booking. Your card payment details will still be required for the deposit to secure your space, though please be advised this information will be held securely, and the card will only be debited upon confirmation of booking. 

Disclaimer

Albatros Adventure Marathons reserve the right to change the itinerary and/or running course without further notice in the event of extreme weather.

By signing up for this event you agree to the Terms & Conditions.

Visa

Please note that it is each traveler’s responsibility to check visa and passport requirements and ensure that they comply. Obtaining a passport and, if required, a visa, is solely the responsibility of each traveler. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after returning from your destination. 

A visa is required for all travelers entering Jordan. Most nationalities can obtain the visa upon arrival at Amman airport at a cost of JOD 40. Note that cash payment is required. USD is accepted corresponding to the exchange rate at the time of entry. Kindly be advised that certain nationalities require an entry visa to be obtained PRIOR to travel. Please check with the FCO. 

Room options

If you are a solo traveller and choose a shared double room when booking, we will pair you with another traveller of the same gender. If you prefer to have your own room, choose single room. A single supplement will apply.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is an essential part of any holiday you take, and we highly recommend that you purchase suitable insurance for your trip.

The roads are not closed for traffic. Although traffic is not heavy in the area, please be aware whenever running on asphalt roads. We advise you to run on the left side of the road, so you can see any vehicles coming towards you.

Age limits

Full marathon runners must be at least 18 years old on race day.

Half marathon runners must be at least 16 years old.

Surface

The Icefjord Midnight Marathon will be run on a variety of surfaces: pavement and gravel roads in and around the town, a short stretch on a wooden path, and rocky trails. 

Packing List 

Packing for north of the Arctic Circle is all about layers. Even though it is summer, it will not be "warm" by most people's definitions. In general, it is a good idea to have a base layer that will warm up your body (merino wool, for example), as well as a wind-protective outer layer. The weather can change rapidly, so having extra layers is a good idea. That way, you can adapt to warmer or cooler conditions.

What to Bring:

• Practical clothing incl. a warm jacket

• Hiking boots

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

Cut-off times

The Marathon starts at 21:00 in the evening and the Half Marathon starts 22:30

The race officially ends at 4:00.

This means that marathon runners have a cut-off time of 7 hours, while half-marathon runners have a cut-off time of 5 1/2  hours. All runners with a net finishing time slower than these cut-offs will receive a FNT (Finished No Time) on the result list.

After 4:00, we will drive around and collect any runners still on the route. Any marathon runners that have not begun their second loop within 4 hours will be held back at the start/finish area (the half-way point).

Weather 

As we are significantly above the Arctic Circle, participants should prepare for the day to be chilly, with an average temperature between 6 and 7°C (43 - 45°F). Ilulissat averages about 7 days of rain in June, so there is a small chance that the race will see some rain. That said, June is known as a dry month in Greenland.  

Start / Finish

Both the marathon and the half-marathon will start and finish outside the historical Hotel Hvide Falk. Bathrooms should be available before the race in the hotel. 

The marathon begins at 21:00 and the half-marathon begins at 22:30. 

At the finish line, there will be a light snack to help you replenish before bed. 

Route Description

The Icefjord Midnight Marathon route will start and finish just outside of the historic Hotel Hvide Falk. Both marathon and half-marathoners will run the same route, but the marathon runners get the pleasure of enjoying the views twice!

There are virtually no flat sections on the run – instead, the course constantly fluctuates between mild ups and downs (generally not more than a few meters at a time). From Hotel Hvide Falk, you will follow the road for approximately 4 km through town. After climbing a wooden staircase, you then are on the ‘yellow track,’ which you will follow for approx. 3 km over hilly, rocky terrain. While the dazzling view of the icy fjord can be quite distracting, don’t forget to look where you place your feet! 

Once you reach the old heliport at the Icefjord Visitor Center, the yellow track turns into the ‘blue track', and you’ll follow a wooden path into the official UNESCO World Heritage site. The wooden path only lasts for about 1 km, and then you are running on trails again. After another 2.5 km of trail, you’ll reach Holms Bakke, and turn left onto the ‘red track.’ You’ll follow the red track back up to the old heliport, and then turn right to continue back into town. The course will be well-marked by race officials, and each track is additionally permanently marked with paint circles of their respective colors. 

Back in town, you’ll follow along the road and take a tour of the eastern side of Ilulissat before running 4 km up to the airport. From this point, you’ll traverse the same path back to Ilulissat. For the half-marathoners, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump until you are back at Hotel Hvide Falk and you can take some well-deserved relaxation. The marathoners will continue on to enjoy the Icefjord and the loop a second time!

There will be no race pacers at this event.

Route Logistics

Kilometer signs are placed at each kilometer along the route. The signs are color coded according to the distance they represent. The signs will also indicate the equivalent distance in miles. The tracks are marked with dots of paint of their respective colors (i.e., the blue track has blue circles), but we will of course be marking the route ourselves as well. 

Water stations will be positioned along the route at approximately every 4 kilometers. Some stations will also serve energy drinks and energy gels. Personal supplies can be deposited at the start/finish area, which marathon runners will pass through halfway through their race.

Surface

The Icefjord Midnight Marathon will be run on a variety of surfaces: pavement and gravel roads in and around the town, a short stretch on a wooden path, and rocky trails.