'Ultimate Test of Endurance': Runners Beat 100-Mile Antarctica Ultra Race World Record

Two American runners beat a world record by over an hour during a 100-mile ultra race in Antarctica that began on Thursday, November 7, according to reports.

Fifteen people participated in the competition, with the option to run either 100 miles, 100 kilometers, or 50 miles, on a 4.2-km loop around the Ultima Basecamp.

Americans Paul Johnston and Roberto Sembiante ran the race in 23 hours, 22 minutes, and 57 seconds, according to organizers.

This footage was shot by Dave Painter, who described the race as the “ultimate test of endurance” that “pushed athletes to their limits in one of the most extreme environments on Earth,” with summer temperatures reportedly soaring to a not-so-balmy -13 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 Celsius).

It was not clear in statements about the event who held the record before. Credit: Dave Painter via Storyful

Video transcript

It's essentially like a desert in the middle of Texas.

But all ice and there's like a few mountains every now and then, which is kind of like Texas.

But instead of it being 100 degrees, it's like, negative 100 degrees.

Yeah.

In the, I've got goose bumps on my goose bumps.

You, ok. Yeah.

Warming up.

You can breathe.

Oh, it's difficult always.

Yeah.

Thank you though for that.

Oh, you don't want these meatballs?

You could have them.

And then I'm gonna keep this, I'm at 34 miles and six hours and 50 minutes.

So, not bad.

Definitely, way ahead of schedule.

Which is good.

It's about a 12 minute pace per mile and then every two laps or so we're stop and to eat here.

Yes.

Yes.

Ok.

Sit down if I go.

You go here.

Yes.

00, that was fun.

That's ok. That was good.

There it is.

That's absolutely incredible.

Hank, you did.

But unbelievable.

We just ran 100 miles in 23 hours and 22 minutes, which is a new world record by an hour and 13 minutes as a runner.

Yeah.

Hardest single day effort ever in my life as a runner.

That was, that was hard.

I'm not doing it again.

Someone else can go take the record and that's fine.

But for now it lives in the United States.

It's a lot of fun that you never wanna have again.

You know, things are usually very, very difficult.

They teach you a lot and you get to grow as a person, but you don't have to do it again, which is a blessing for the most part.

This is, again, again, again, again, again, we're done.

All right.

Give you a, you.