Spitsbergen Marathon

Usually I'm more of a casual walker/hiker, so when I decided to run the Svalbardmila my goal was to just somehow finish it, be that on all fours or upright. But not only did the whole team provide such a great moral boost, that running it wasn't as much of a struggle as anticipated, having friends and strangers alike cheer from all sides made the km just fly past. Paired with Svalbards unique scenery (and being lucky with the weather) I caught myself being surprised to be at the half way mark and later on the finishing line. Time and Distance seamed to have just flown past. And of course I couldn't help myself to sign up for 2024 as soon as it became available, this year however with a higher goal than "Just finish it somehow".

My second time in the NORTH... and I am speechless. Breathtaking landscapes, smiling volunteers yelling HEYA! HEYA!, coolest medal of the world with a Polar Bear and great runners all around... Pro athletes, amateur, walkers, families etc... I'm going to run it AGAIN this year and I hope to do it for every single june of my life, in the future!

Was one of the highlights of 2023 for me! Sure I was 3rd to last to cross the line, but it was all about the taking part. Breath-taking scenery, great crowd supporters, awesome volunteers and the coolest medal when crossing the line. An absolute must for all.

Nice place, good organization. The weather was very good. Running in this place is a new, unforgettable experience. I will definitely come back again! 💪 Half marathon is my hobby. I always just choose him. The finish time was good too!

The most beautiful running experience I’ve had! Very well organized both before, during and after the race. The scenery was incredible, the course was not too easy and not too hard. And how often do you get to run without ear plugs in case there is a polar bear lurking? (Don’t worry, there are bear patrols throughout the course! ) Truly a special event!

Wonderful organizations with the reception etc! Looking forward to this year's race!

I took part in the 2023 Full Marathon... amazing atmosphere, great community and a very convenient organization for such a "small" event. Truly a lifetime experience, 100% worth the trip!

Travelled from the UK specifically for the race. Longyearbyen is beautiful and the most stunning place for a run with amazing views. So well organised and everyone was supportive. I'm not a fast runner and I loved taking the time to enjoy the scenery and the experience. The area has so much to explore. The prize-giving banquet was wonderful and worth attending. If you only do one race next year, this is a must. Shelley Heneghan UK

nice place, good organization. the weather was very good. Running in this place is a new, unforgettable experience. I will definitely come back again! 💪

Half marathon is my hobby. I always just choose him. The finish time was good too!

For the first time in Spitsbergen and it left an unforgettable impression. A super good organization and enthusiastic volunteers. The weather conditions were tough, but everyone along the route encouraged the runners! After the finish we received a nice medal. And a great afterparty in the evening! I hope I can experience it again.

I think this is the most unique run in the world. the route is challenging, but the views you get are absolutely incredible! The crew is sweet and takes good care of you on the side. A lot people are standing on the sidelines encouraging you and at the finish they are waiting for you and cheering. The awards ceremony was well organized and so was the party afterwards. Everything is well organised, all information is correct, you can pick up your start number and go shopping for clothes if necessary. It's a super nice and fantastic run that I definitely recommend! Thank you all for this amazing experience!

Magical wiews and surroundings, super arrangements, and excellent service🤩🩵

Visiting Svalbard for the 2022 Spitsbergen Half Marathon was a bucket list event and it did not disappoint! The course, while challenging, is spectacularly beautiful— like no other race I’ve ever done. It was a particularly difficult day to run — 39 degrees Fahrenheit with a stiff wind and a mix of snow and rain. But the volunteers along the course were terrific — very encouraging. I still remember hearing “Hi Hi” as I passed them on the course. The folks handling the finish line were incredibly helpful and caring. I must’ve looked pretty wiped out (I certainly felt that way) because one woman came up to me just past the finish line, put a hand on my shoulder, looked me in the eyes and asked “Are you alright?” I was very impressed by her concern. I said I was okay — which might have stretched the truth a bit 🙂. But I felt much better after helping myself to the post-race food spread. I particularly enjoyed the chocolate, which at that moment seemed like the best chocolate ever! The victory party that night was fantastic — incredible food, two free drinks and a very entertaining band flown in from the mainland. I came from St. Louis, Missouri, USA and people at the victory party were astounded to hear my friends and I traveled that far for the race. People were very friendly and it was fun hearing all the different languages. I hope to come back some day and do this race again. We did a combination hike and snowmobile excursion up to a glacier the day after the race and got to see and savor some of Svalbard’s phenomenal scenery. Everyone we met was very nice and extremely helpful. I look forward to my next visit!

The best views you'll ever see - absolutely unforgettable. This was a windy year, which made for tougher running, but the mighty mountains and the cheerful volunteers more than made up for that.

I loved running this race. I participated in 2019. It is the best of all half marathons I did participate in. Great organization, amazing landscape. Being lucky with beautiful weather made it phenomenal. Unfortunately my knees do not allow me to run long distances any more, but if I will ever run again, it will be in Spitsbergen. Running the Spitsbergen half marathon made greatest memories for a lifetime!