The Last Desert, the final leg of Racing The Planet’s 4 Deserts series of ultramarathons gets underway tomorrow (Nov. 21st), and will run through Dec. 1st.
The Last Desert is an invitation only, ultra stage race held in Antarctica. Unlike the other 4 Desert events, this one is only open to those who have completed the other “3 Deserts”. Those events include The Atacama Crossing, The Gobi March, and The Sahara Race. Competitors have already met in Ushuaia, Argentina, and have now begun the crossing of Drake Passage, making their way to Antarctica itself. There, the competition will get underway.
The race itself consists of a number of stages, ranging in length from 10 to 100 miles depending on conditions and terrain. Unlike the other 4 Desert events, the fourteen competitors will return each night to a ship, where they will rest in a warm cabin and be treated to morning and evening meals. The daily courses will wander across a variety of islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula itself over the next week and a half.
The Breaking News section of the official website will be a good place to get updates as they occur. Right now, race officials have informed the racers that conditions in the area are extremely cold and icy, and they should be prepared for the worst elements.
I’ll post updates as they occur over the next week or so.
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Where do they get the energy…?
What an amazing series to undertake…
DSD
I have no idea where the energy comes from, or how you train to run an ultra in four very different deserts all over the World. These are some extremely gifted athletes to say the least.