The Antarctica Marathon was the first sporting event held in Antarctica, on January 28, 1995, although not held on the continent itself. The event is now held every year in late February or early March. The 42.195-kilometre (26.219 mi) race is held on King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands just off the Antarctic Peninsula. There is also a half-marathon held at the same time. The start and finish is at Bellingshausen Station (the Russian base), and the course passes the Artigas Base (Uruguayan), the Frei Base (Chilean) and the Great Wall Base (Chinese). The course follows a gravel road that connects the bases.
The Last Desert was the first ultramarathon to be held in Antarctica. It consists of up to six stages on varying locations around Antarctica, including the mainland of Antarctica. It is now in its third year and is held in November or early December.
The Antarctic Ice Marathon is an entirely different event, held at 80 Degrees South, well within the Antarctic Circle, at the foot of the Ellsworth Mountains just a few hundred miles from the South Pole.