The Coolest Race on Earth

Mud, Madmen, Glaciers, and Grannies at the Antarctica Marathon

Chronicling the world's most difficult race through the eyes of one who ran it, this vivid and humorous memoir shares the adventures of inspiring contestants-including a wheelchair-bound runner and three record-breaking grandmothers-as they trek across the daunting terrain of extinct volcanoes, craggy mountain peaks, and the turbulent Drake passage, all in a quest to complete the Antarctica Marathon. Revealing the runners' struggles against melting glaciers and hostile skuas, the narrative also recounts their unique experiences with curious penguins and whale sightings. Spotlighting the people and the place that make this annual event so remarkable, this account not only reflects why marathons are so successful but also presents a deeply funny meditation on what makes people run.