An extraordinary Adelaide Hills athlete and mother-of-three has braved the extreme elements to secure a stunning podium finish at the 2026 North Pole Marathon.
Katie Sarah, 57, claimed second place in the women’s division over the weekend, conquering what is widely known as the “World’s Coolest Marathon.”
The gruelling 42-kilometre race is held entirely on drifting Arctic sea ice at 90 degrees North latitude. Runners face the ultimate test of endurance, navigating an unpredictable, shifting frozen circuit above more than 3,600 metres of Arctic Ocean.
Pushing through brutal sub-zero temperatures, Sarah crossed the finish line in an incredible 6 hours, 56 minutes and 41 seconds.
The Adelaide Hills resident finished just over two minutes behind women’s champion Rikke Dam, of Denmark.
She said running the marathon was an “incredible” experience.
“Although ‘running’ might be overstating it as my 6hr 56min time shows! Underfoot was horrendous, puddles of sludge for what felt like 30-40 per cent of the way. So there was a lot of picking my way through that at a careful pace. But I am always about the journey and the experience, and it was certainly amazing and memorable. Second place was a completely unexpected bonus.”
For those who know Sarah locally, her latest achievement comes as little surprise. The elite athlete and explorer is already renowned as the first woman in history to complete the “Seven-Seven” challenge, climbing both the highest peak and the highest volcano on each of the seven continents.
From conquering Mount Everest to racing across drifting Arctic sea ice, Sarah continues to put the Adelaide Hills on the global map for extreme adventure.
Organisers Runbuk confirmed the successful completion of the 2026 North Pole Marathon, with Sarah’s remarkable result adding another chapter to her extraordinary career.
