The marathons with polar bear guards

Facts last verified 2026-10-03

Most marathons worry about water stations and portable toilets. In Svalbard, the organisers also worry about polar bears. Longyearbyen has not one but two marathons, and on both of them there are armed guards watching the course while you race.

The ski marathon: April

Svalbard Skimaraton is held every April, and is the world’s northernmost touring race on skis. It was first held in 1993 and is today the largest single event in Svalbard.

• Distances: a full marathon of 42 km, a half marathon of 21 km, or a 10 km race.
• Style: all classes are classic style, no skating.
• Course: it changes from year to year, with around 400 metres of climbing. The finish is in Adventdalen.
• Safety: polar bear guards patrol the course on snowmobiles.
• Next race: 17 April 2027.

The running marathon: June

Spitsbergen Marathon is run on the first weekend of June, and bills itself as the world’s northernmost marathon on firm ground. In 2026 it was held on 6 June.

• Distances: the full marathon, a half marathon, or the Spitsbergenmila, 10 km.
• Course: it starts in the centre of Longyearbyen and runs through Arctic landscape and old mining remains. The full marathon is two laps of the half-marathon course, on a mix of gravel and asphalt.
• Weather: expect 0 to 10 °C, and possibly rain, fog or wind. The organisers recommend windproof clothing, long sleeves and legs, a cap and gloves.
• Safety: armed polar bear guards are stationed along the route. “We are the only race with armed guards, I believe,” as one organiser put it.
• Who runs it: runners from Norway and many other countries. In 2017, they came from 26 nations.

Why the guards?

Polar bears can turn up anywhere in Svalbard, at any time of year, including near Longyearbyen. A race that sends lots of people out of town along open roads and valleys needs someone keeping watch, so the guards are stationed along the running route and patrol the ski course on snowmobiles.

Want to take part?

• Book early. Flights and accommodation fill up, and the ski marathon in particular falls in the busy sunny-winter season. See Seasons: when to go.
• Sign up through the race’s own website. The Spitsbergen Marathon is organised by the local sports club Svalbard Turn.
• Don’t wander off afterwards. The guards cover the course, not the rest of Svalbard. Outside the town limits you need polar bear protection or a guide. See Polar bear safety.