Polar Circle Marathon 2022

Wednesday 26th October 2022: Optional Pre-Tour Day in Copenhagen 

Contact us to book the Pre-Tour day in Copenhagen

Thursday the tour package officially begins, but as our flight to Greenland leaves early in the morning, we strongly advise against booking same day connections. This means you should plan to arrive in Copenhagen one or more nights in advance. Pre-nights can be booked at Hotel Hebron located in Copenhagen's city center. Hotel Hebron is less than a 10 minute walk from Copenhagen Central Station, which, in turn, is only a 15-minute train ride from the airport.

On Wednesday, we offer participants the opportunity to book a running sightseeing tour through the beautiful city of Copenhagen. Our local running guide will take us on an 8km tour through the historical streets, and we'll stop at the most famous and interesting sights.

In the evening, all Polar Circle Marathon participants - runners and spectators alike - are invited for a free, informal dinner at the Albatros Travel headquarters. Tapas will be served in our canteen, where you can meet and mingle with other participants and browse exclusive offers on running clothes from our partner, Craft. If you're missing anything suitable for Greenland, this is an excellent chance to stock up. You'll also receive your race packet, which contains your start number, race shirt, and more. 

Any participants that do not make it to the dinner will receive their race packets at the airport on Thursday morning. 

Thursday 27th October 2022: Copenhagen - Kangerlussuaq. Arrival day and excursions.

All participants will meet at Copenhagen Airport, Terminal 2.

The flight to Greenland departs early in the morning and Air Greenland does not cooperate with other airlines, meaning you must claim your luggage at Copenhagen Airport, clear customs and check in again for the flight to Greenland. As check in closes one hour before departure we therefore strongly recommend that you do not book a same day connection, but instead arrive in Copenhagen one or more days in advance.

A 4.5 hour flight will bring us to Kangerlussuaq where we arrive in the morning, local time (GMT –3 hours). Approximately 500 people make up the permanent population of this township, which was established by the American army during the Second World War and handed over to the Government of Greenland in 1992.

Upon our arrival we check in at Polar Lodge, Old Camp or Hotel Kangerlussuaq. The tour leaders will give a brief welcome at each place before the optional excursions will run. For those who haven’t booked an excursion it is possible to follow the tour leader on a hike to Mount Hassel or simply explore the area on your own.

The guided walk up to Mount Hassel is a 3 hour hike that follows the ridge eastwards towards the inland ice. The higher we go the more beautiful it gets and, weather permitting, we will have a fantastic panoramic view from the fjord to the inland ice. If there is too much snow/ice the tour leaders will try to find an alternative route at a lower level.

In the evening dinner is served at Restaurant Roklubben.

A meal onboard the flight, lunch at your respective accommodation, and dinner are included today.

Friday 28th October 2022: Route inspection

Today all participants will depart for the route inspection in the morning to get an idea of the challenge it is to run on the ice cap. Non-runners will also participate in the tour and can use the day as a sightseeing trip to the Greenland Ice Sheet.

The inspection tour is heading 35km east of the airport to Point 660 from where participants will walk the marked route on the ice cap. Remember that this will be a cold walk in freezing temperatures and a warm winter jacket, ski pants or similar, hiking or winter boots, hat and gloves are essential. Runners may want to bring their running shoes to test run in the conditions, but it is advisable to bring other, warmer footwear too. We drive in large all-terrain vehicles, which will take us along Watson River through the fantastic landscape varying from lakes, fertile moor and dense scrub to large stretches of dunes and rock devoid of vegetation.

The road from Kangerlussuaq to the ice cap was originally built by German carmaker Volkswagen who had a testing center on the ice and needed easy access from the harbor in Kangerlussuaq to the extreme conditions on the ice cap. The testing center, however, is now closed and the road is now under the supervision of Sisimiut Municipality. The condition of the road is therefore not as good as it has been, but more like an adventure marathon route. The access to the ice cap has also declined over the years, partly because of lesser maintenance and partly because of the retraction of the ice cap over the past years.

Finally we arrive at the edge of the ice cap at Point 660 where we park the vehicles and walk on to the ice cap itself. It is a great experience to feel the massive cold air from the ice, taste the pure crystal clear air and listen to the deafening silence. You suddenly realize that Greenland is in a category by itself.

In the evening all runners gather at Hotel Kangerlussuaq for the race briefing where the race officials and medical team will give the final information about the marathon and half marathon races.

If you wish to change distance* or make late registration for the Polar Bear Challenge* this is also the time to do it. It is not possible to make late registration to the Polar Bear Challenge after the marathon race on Saturday.

*Both full and half marathons are each limited to 150 runners, so change of distance and registration for the Polar Bear Challenge is due to availability and on a first come, first serve basis.

After the race briefing a pasta dinner is served at Hotel Kangerlussuaq.

Breakfast, sandwich lunch, and pasta dinner are included today.

Saturday 29th October 2022: Marathon race day

At 7:00 in the morning marathon and Polar Bear Challenge runners drive to the starting point near the inland ice, once again using all-terrain vehicles to get there. The marathon is scheduled to start at 8:30 and have a time limit of 7 hours.

The marathon finish line will be located in front of Polar Lodge. From here runners staying at Polar Lodge and Hotel Kangerlussuaq can walk to their rooms while a bus will take runners staying at Old Camp to their rooms.

The runners will be offered water and refreshments at stations posted along the route. In the finish area a BBQ lunch will be served for all participants between 11:30 and 15:30.

Half marathon runners and non-runners can spend the day exploring the area on their own, but are also encouraged to cheer on the runners at the finish line. It is not possible to go to the start line to cheer the runners off, as the all-terrain vehicles are in full use.

In the evening a semi-pasta dinner is served at Hotel Kangerlussuaq.

Breakfast, BBQ lunch, and semi-pasta dinner are included this day.

Sunday 30th October 2022: Half marathon race day

At 7:00 in the morning both half marathon and Polar Bear Challenge runners drive to the starting point near the inland ice, once again using all-terrain vehicles to get there. The half marathon is scheduled to start at 8:30 and have a time limit of 4 hours.

At the finish line the all-terrain vehicles will be waiting to take all runners back to Kangerlussuaq as they fill up. The last vehicle departs when the last runner has finished. The runners will be offered water and refreshments at stations posted along the route. In the finish area a light lunch will be provided.

Full marathon runners and non-runners can spend the day going on an optional tour or explore the area on their own. It is not possible to go to the route and finish line and cheer, as the all-terrain vehicles are in full use for the half marathon.

In the evening we will celebrate the completion of The Polar Circle Marathon & Half Marathon with a festive Greenlandic dinner in Roklubben. Awards ceremony for the top three finishers in each category will also take place before the party under an (hopefully) northern lights lit night sky sets off.

Breakfast, and celebration dinner are included this day. In addition participants running the half marathon this day have a post-race meal included.

Monday 31st October 2022: Farewell Greenland

After breakfast and check out we travel back to Copenhagen. The flight leaves just before noon so we have a final opportunity to enjoy a last stroll or jog around Kangerlussuaq.

We arrive in Copenhagen in the evening (CET). Once again please note that we do not recommend same day connections from Copenhagen due to the late arrival from Greenland and the fact that luggage can’t be checked in all the way. Again it is possible to book post nights at Grand hotel in the city center (contact us to book) 

Breakfast and a meal onboard the flight is included this day.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

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

If you are holding a passport from a country with visa requirement to enter the Schengen you must apply for a special validation of your Schengen visa to enter Greenland, as Greenland is not part of the EU and Schengen Agreement. The Schengen visa and special Greenland validation must be applied at the Danish embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

More information on visa to Greenland can be found here:

https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/visa/the_faroe_islands_and_greenland.htm

Arrival information

The 5-day tour starts in Copenhagen, Denmark. All participants will meet at Terminal 2 in Copenhagen Airport. The flight to Greenland departs early in the morning, and Air Greenland does not cooperate with other airlines, meaning you must claim your luggage at Copenhagen Airport, clear customs and check in again for the flight to Greenland.

As check in closes one hour before departure we therefore strongly recommend that you do not book a same day connection, but instead arrive in Copenhagen one or more days in advance. Pre-package nights can be booked in Copenhagen.

On return to Copenhagen the arrival is in the evening. Once again please note that we do not recommend same day connections out of Copenhagen due to the late arrival from Greenland and the fact that luggage can’t be checked in all the way. It is possible to book post-package nights in the city centre.

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.

For either singloe rooms or shared double room, please contact us 

Flight times

Please check the website for updated flight times but keep in mind these are subject to change.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is not included in the price. It is strongly recommended for all participants to have sufficient insurance coverage during their stay in Denmark and Greenland.

Recommended packing list 

It is mandatory to have proper spikes for running on the ice cap! If you do not have access to these, please let our team know and we can arrange to have some provided locally. 

Layers

How many layers you wear is an individual matter and weather dependent, but a minimum of 3 layers is recommended. Make sure it’s comfortable to wear and doesn’t restrict you in your movements.

Base/Inner Layer (sweat transporting layer):

Must be a functional thinner layer that transports sweat away from your body and dries fast. Avoid base layers with zippers that touch the skin. 

Mid Layer (insulating layer):

Loose weave fabric or fleece with additional thermal insulation thicker than your base layer. The mid layer should provide warmth and breathability. Again, it’s important that moisture is transported to the outside/next layer. 

Top/Outer Layer (weather-protective layer):

The top layer can be divided into two categories: Soft shell and hard shell. Regardless of what you choose, wind protection is the most important thing. Water resistance is a benefit too in case it snows. While soft shells are now being manufactured with better wind and water resistancy they’re still not as efficient as a hard shell. The hard shell on the other hand, does not have the same breathability as the soft shell, although development of vent zones does allow for more airflow and thus minimize the risk of wet and cold mid- and base layers.

In extreme wind conditions starting in both a soft and a hard shell can be advisable, but it is also very likely that you will soon be too warm and will need to drop one of them.

Do not wear cotton clothing. High-performance clothing will also decrease your chances of getting blisters and calluses. Merino wool is a potential option, as wool will keep you warm even when it's wet. Brand such as Icebreaker and Smartwool make perfomance-wool clothing.

Legs:

Three layers on your legs are likely to be too much. The top layer on your legs must have wind protection and preferably thermal functionality. A base layer under a winter tight will work if the tight has wind protection. Alternatively a normal winter running tight may work fine as base layer under a pair of windproof running pants. Running without wind protection on your legs may cause frostbite on knees, thighs and other lower body parts.

Head and neck:

A winter hat is an absolute must. It should cover your ears too. The neck should be covered with a scarf or a neck tube/buff. It’s important that the scarf/buff can be drawn up over the mouth and nose in case of strong winds. However, running with your nose and mouth covered for a longer time will cause condensation and make your face more prone to frostbite. Balaclavas and buffs with air holes for mouth and nose are available, but even these will eventually turn in to an ice mask. If windy and necessary to cover your face make sure you actively remove the ice building up on your cover. A spare scarf/buff at the personal supply station is advisable. Star Wars fans may invest in a ColdAvenger. The use of tape on cheek and nose is not recommended. There’s no evidence that this will prevent frostbites, but it will definitely prevent the medical team from seeing signs of frostbite.

Sunglasses or light ski goggles will be a relief in sunny, windy, and/or snowy conditions.

Feet:

Your feet are the least exposed part of your body as you’ll be constantly moving sending a lot of blood to your feet and toes. We do recommend, however, that you wear warm running socks, potentially with a thin liner sock underneath. Make sure the sock is high so there’s no open skin gap between sock and tights/pants. A spare pair of socks at the personal supply station is advisable. If the ice sheet is covered in a thick layer of snow gaiters will keep it out of your shoes, but cheaper solutions like a plastic bags inside your shoe may do the trick. If you’re prone to blisters the plastic bag may cause too much friction.

The coolest marathon on earth!

Ice as far as the eye beholds. Impossibly beautiful, blue skies. Incredibly fresh air. Musk oxen and arctic foxes on the stark landscape of the arctic tundra.

Yes, we are in one of the most remote corners of the world: Greenland. Feel the soft crunch of snow beneath your shoes while running through the arctic desert and Greenland ice cap and immerse yourself in this rare and exceptional natural beauty.

This will undoubtedly be the coolest experience of your life.

A part of the route takes place on the ice sheet itself, but the main part of the course is run on the gravel road (often snow covered) that connects the ice sheet with the small township of Kangerlussuaq, just north of the Polar Circle.