73-Year-Old US Woman Becomes the First to Complete Marathons on Both North Pole and Antarctica
While many runners avoid extreme cold, a 73-year-old woman from the US, Susan Ragon, proved her strength by completing marathons in two of the coldest places on Earth. Susan from Massachusetts finished the North Pole Marathon and became the oldest US woman to complete marathons on North Pole and Antarctica.
Running on Ice with Polar Bears Watching
On 31 July 2024, 18 people started their run from an ice field near a ship. The 26.2-mile race had melting ice, slippery ground, and changing weather. In these tough conditions, Susan Ragon finished the race in 8 hours 58 minutes and 33 seconds. She became the oldest woman to finish the North Pole Marathon.
She Had Already Completed Antarctica Before
Susan’s journey did not begin with the North Pole. Back in 2019, she finished the Antarctic Ice Marathon when she was 69 years and 92 days old. This gave her a Guinness World Record at that time, but in 2022, Christine Hobson from the UK broke that record at the age of 69 years and 154 days.
She Ran in All 7 Continents and Both Poles
Susan treated running like a mission. She completed marathons in all seven continents and both poles. Very few people in the world have achieved this.
Her Training Was as Tough as the Race
To get ready for these hard races, Susan slowly ran longer distances, did different types of exercises, ate healthy food, and trained on slippery ground. She also started swimming and cycling to build strength for the coldest place.
North Pole Did Not Feel Colder Than Boston
After reaching the North Pole, the main challenge was finding a safe location to run. If no place was found, the backup plan was to run on the ship’s deck. Luckily, a 350-meter ice loop was found and she completed the race by running 120 laps on it.
She said the cold at the North Pole did not feel harder than winters in Boston. The 24-hour daylight and mid-30s temperature gave the race a different kind of feeling.
She Saw Climate Change Very Closely
Running in the Arctic helped Susan see nature up close. She saw rivers forming in the ice and glaciers melting. This made her understand how serious climate change is.
She said the race was not just a test of her body but also a moment that showed her how the environment is changing.
She Fell with Just 2 Miles Left but Did Not Stop
Near the end of the race, Susan slipped in a puddle and broke her wrist. But she still kept running and finished the race. Her determination showed her strong mindset.
Her Simple Advice to New Runners
Susan believes preparation is most important. She said people should train in all kinds of weather, do full research, and be ready to adapt. Without mental preparation, it is hard to complete such races.
Support from Fellow Runners and Loved Ones Helped Her
She thanked her fellow runners who were part of the journey. Billy Hafferty, Duane Wesemann, Mauritz Jansen van Rensburg, Jerry Grove, Katherine Kowalchek, and Kate Kennedy ran with her. Pilots Ken Ozkaptan and Brian Sennett were also part of the event.
Her two trainers played a big role. John Mortimer helped her finish a marathon in under 4 hours at age 46 and Patrick has been training her for the past 15 years.
Her Husband’s Support Meant the Most
Susan said her husband Terry has always supported her. He was the one who introduced her to running. Even today his support is her biggest motivation.
Next Stop: Sydney Marathon
Now Susan is preparing for the Sydney Marathon. She wants to complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Her journey proves that age is just a number when you have the will to achieve something.
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