Second Annual Polar Bear Marathon Looms

Would you sooner run a marathon through the sand dunes and heat of Morocco, or race across the frozen tundra of Churchill? A man from Steinbach, who has accomplished both, says though Churchill is an easier run, he would much rather race in the scorching heat.

Albert Martens is helping organize the second annual Polar Bear Marathon, scheduled to take place this Friday in Churchill. In last year's inaugural race there were fourteen runners, while thirteen are expected this year.

Martens explains the idea came from Antarctic Mike (Pierce) from San Diego who wanted a very cold, icy marathon. Last year the winners finished the 26.2 mile marathon in just over four hours, while Martens and Pierce finished in approximately six and a half hours.

Martens says the weather was beautiful last year at around -10 degrees and no wind. He's hoping for similar conditions Friday. "I don't care if it's going to be very cold at -20 but I don't want it to be too windy because that is not going to be any fun," says Martens. "If that salty wind comes off the Hudson Bay then we will be fighting it one way or another."

According to Martens, runners didn't spot any polar bears during last year's race. He explains in order to protect participants, they will assign two or three runners per van, asking them to stick near their vehicle. The field of thirteen includes runners from Virden, Churchill, Altona, Winnipeg, Steinbach, Tadoule Lake and even Germany and Switzerland. Martens says three First Nations runners have registered.

The Polar Bear Marathon is run through Athletes In Action and is a fundraiser for the work done with First Nations. Martens explains when AIA held sports camps in Tadoule Lake, they signed up three runners from that community. "We are very excited about that," says Martens. "To have them run in snow and train and get out there and get fit and come and join us, that will be a wonderful thing for First Nations people to come and let's hope they win."

For Martens, this will be race number 49 of his career. His first marathon was in Switzerland in 1980. Martens says over the course of thirty-three years, his toughest challenge was the 135 mile Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley. He notes not only is it a mental battle but he says you also get beat up physically, battling blisters while running through three mountain passes. He says the Marathon des Sables in Morocco is also a brutal seven day challenge, and one of the toughest he's ever faced.

"I think Churchill is more or less an easy, long run," he says. "It's not so much the racing and if the conditions are okay, no bears and no minus thirty with strong winds and storm, then the Polar Bear Marathon is fairly easy to do."

Martens says his goal Friday is to finish and make sure the others competitors are having a good time.