Mike Wardian (USA) and Anne-Marie Flammersfeld (GER) are among the lead contenders in the upcoming UVU North Pole Marathon scheduled for 9th April 2014.

Wardian has iconic status in the ultramarathon world. The ship broker and UVU Racing athlete is a four-time USATF ultra-marathoner of the year, four-time USA 50K Champion, 2008 USA 100km Champion and 2010 World 100K silver medalist. The prolific racer and 2:17 marathoner has competed in the last three US Olympic Marathon trials, set indoor and treadmill world records for running marathons, and won countless races at home and overseas. Mike will also be part of the elite field in the Boston Marathon, just two weeks after participating at the Pole.

Anne-Marie Flammersfeld has won ultramarathon stage races in the Gobi, Atacama and Sahara Deserts as well as in the Antarctic region. A Sports Scientist and UVU Racing athlete based in St Moritz, Switzerland, she finished third overall in the 2013 Manaslu Trail Race in Nepal.

A total of 48 athletes from 16 countries will take part in the North Pole Marathon, which is the 12th edition of the event. Temperatures typically range from -25C to -40C in what is popularly dubbed the 'world's coolest marathon'.

The race, over the standard distance 42.2km marathon, attracts a range of runners from military personnel to vastly experienced marathon and ultramarathon runners to charity runners to people making their marathon debut at the top of the world. They must negotiate soft snow in addition to the sub-zero temperatures while polar bear guards keep a close watch on proceedings.

On 8th April, competitors will be flown from Svalbard to a temporary ice camp at the Geographic North Pole for the race. They will complete their marathon on an ice floe on top of the Arctic Ocean on 9th April before returning to Svalbard on 10th April. 

The 2014 race field is profiled at http://www.npmarathon.com/ and race updates will be first available at www.facebook.com/npmarathon.

The following countries are represented in the event: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, Tahiti and the USA.

Contact: Richard Donovan, Race Director - rd@npmarathon.com.