Press Release

Irishman on Top of the World

April 5 2002

The first ever North Pole marathon occurred today April 5th. The marathon was brought forward from April 24th to April 5th at the request of Richard Donovan. Donovan was running at the exact geographic North Pole in windchill temperatures of down to -60 degree Celsius and 60km per hour winds. Richard ran a circular route that began at the exact geographic North Pole. He covered 18.1 miles in 2 hours 28 minutes, half of that running into 60km per hour winds. Worsening weather conditions forced the support helicopter to take off to a short distance away where Richard finished the remaining 8.1 miles in atrocious conditions (including a whiteout) in 1 hour 20 minutes. His overall marathon time was 3 hours 48 minutes.

Donovan, a 35-year-old Irishman, has now become the first person in history to run a marathon to both the South Pole and the North Pole having only ten weeks ago won the inaugural South Pole Marathon. Donovan had to watch his step as a mere 6 to 12 feet under the drifting ice floes lay 12,000 feet of Arctic Ocean water. He was careful to look out for sudden cracks (leads) and pressure ridges that could expose the ocean at any time. His experiences from the South Pole marathon stood to him in this event as he discarded the snowshoes that hindered him previously and this was reflected in a much-improved time.

Donovan's South Pole Marathon success on January 22nd was achieved against huge odds for the Irish adventure runner. Only a week before the race, he hyperextended his right knee and required the use of snowshoes to assist in stabilising it. He was given little chance of even completing the event. However, despite intense pain to his hip flexors caused by his unfamiliarity with snowshoes, he finished some 1.5 miles ahead of professional athlete Dean Karnazes of San Francisco, USA. The South Pole race was run at an altitude of 10,000 feet in wind chill temperatures of -50 degrees and Donovan suffered hypothermia, snow blindness and frostbite on the 26.2-mile linear route. After the event, which took nearly nine hours, he required 3-4 litres of IV fluid.

The Irishman embarked on his trip to the North Pole under a veil of secrecy to avoid an attempt of the 'prize' being robbed from him by another solo competitor. He travelled via Svalbard, Norway on March 28th before leaving by jet for the Russian North Pole Base Camp on April 2. Finally, he was transported by helicopter to the geographic pole on the day of the run. Speaking on satellite phone from the North Pole, Donovan paid tribute to Sergei Insarov of Russia for making his marathon possible. He also gave special thanks to Brent Weigner of Wyoming, USA for his advice and expertise.

Not content with his Polar victories, Donovan too is attempting to run seven extreme ultramarathons on seven continents in the same calendar year (2002). This would be another world first for Donovan who describes himself as merely an "average runner". Although the North Pole is not a continent, he decided to add it to his schedule because of the historic significance of the achievement. The Irishman is running the races in aid of starving children in Calcutta and an animal sanctuary in the west of Ireland. More information on his quest can be obtained on the website http://www.sevencontinents.ie . Photos and video footage of his North Pole adventure will also be available on the site after Donovan's return to Ireland.

A second North Pole Marathon is to be held in 2003 and Donovan and Weigner will be Race Directors. It promises to be an excellent annual event for those athletes who are looking for something different to achieve. It also offers the opportunity for those who have run a marathon on all seven continents to complete a 'Grand Slam' by running at the North Pole also. For more information, see http://www.npmarathon.com

Home Page to the North Pole Marathon

National Geographic Interview on Polar Marathons

National Geographic Adventure – “The Iceman Runneth”, August, 2002.
In January, Irishman Richard Donovan won the inaugural South Pole Marathon. Then he did a 180, literally, completing the first marathon-length run in the North Pole ten weeks later.......

Donovan is going to the ends of the Earth to help these charities and encourage everyone to make a shorter trip to their local bank to contribute. Donations can be made to the following account:

A/C: Seven Continents
Bank of Ireland
Salthill
Galway
Sort Code: 90-38-40,
A/C: 45726438