Polar Running Adventures is primarily operated by three-time polar marathoner Richard Donovan. A native of Ireland, he conducts the business in cooperation with a network of associate specialists from around the globe. In addition to organising the world's northernmost marathon - the North Pole Marathon - Polar Running Adventures also organises the world's southernmost marathon - the Antarctic Ice Marathon.
Richard won the First Ever South Pole Marathon (Antarctica) on 22 January 2002 and then pioneered the way for the North Pole Marathon by running a solo marathon at 90N on 5 April, 2002. In doing so, he became the first person to run a marathon at both the North and South Poles. He returned to the North Pole in 2003, where he was race director, co-organiser, and competitor in the first exploratory North Pole Marathon race. In 2004, he engaged in organisation and race director duties only to establish the North Pole Marathon as a truly unique competition on the international racing calendar.
After his polar running activities in early 2002, Richard went on to complete some of the most diverse ultra marathon races on earth, one on each continent. His races throughout that year covered not only vast distances, but took place in a variety of extreme climatic conditions and circumstances: from the mind-numbing cold of the South Pole to the scorching heat of the Sahara Desert; from the sea level of native coastal Ireland to the altitude heights of the Andes and Himalayan mountains; and from baking sand dunes to snow and ice.
He won the Poor Man's Comrades Marathon, Australia; the Inca Trail Marathon, South America; and the Everest Challenge Marathon and Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race, Asia. He also completed the gruelling Trans 333 across the Sahara Desert in Africa.
In July 2003, Richard set some Guinness World Records for treadmill running, including new records for 100k and 100 miles.
In July 2004, he accompanied a British soccer player across the Atacama Desert in Chile for a prime-time BBC documentary called 'The Challenge'. This critically acclaimed documentary, one of an eight part series of extreme challenges that included an Everest attempt and race to the magnetic North Pole, was broadcast on 20 October 2004. On 28 November 2004, Richard set a new Irish 100-mile road record in Monaco.
In May 2005, he took part the first leg of the Great Russian Race -- a non-competitive relay run from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg. He then ran from the most northerly point of Ireland to the most southerly point (Malin Head to Mizen Head) from 4 July to 9 July 2005, completing the 600km+ route in a new record for that direction.
On 9 January 2006, Richard successfully completed the first ever 100k on the continent of Antarctica. Running alone and in poor conditions, he posted a time of 15 hours 43 minutes for a distance equivalent to ten percent of the journey to the South Pole. On 25 February 2006, he represented Ireland in the World 24 Hour Challenge in Taiwan but pulled up with a foot injury after just over 100 miles and 16.5 hours of running, thereby finishing 55th. In October 2006, he completed the 100km section of the Jungle Marathon Stage Race in the Brazilian Amazon and then returned to Antarctica to win the 100k race on 15 December in a new record time of 12 hours 55 minutes six seconds.
On 28 July 2007, Richard represented Ireland in the World 24 Hour Challenge in Canada but had another disappointing experience in this championship, retiring early with stomach problems.
From 23 to 28 June 2008, he ran from the southernmost point of Ireland to the northernmost point (opposite direction than in 2005), completing the 365-mile route in a new Irish national record. See the 'Run the Country' website for details.
Between 31 January and 5 February 2009, Richard completed the World Marathon Challenge, running a marathon on all seven continents in 130 hours and 8 minutes (5 days 10 hours 8 minutes).
Leading international magazines, including National Geographic Adventure, Sports Illustrated, Runner’s World and Men's Journal have published feature length interviews and reports on Richard’s adventure race performances. He has also penned articles on his running experiences for Runner’s World (UK) and other publications.
Richard was educated in Ireland and the USA and received postgraduate academic scholarships in both countries. He is the current Chairman of UltraRunning Ireland. His brother Paul was a two-time Olympian at 1500m and 5000m and a world indoor medallist at 3000m.