• Login
Ultra Running Magazine
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Renew
    • Gift Subscription
    • Subscriber Login
  • Magazine
    • All Issues
    • Purchase Back Issues
    • Find a Retailer
    • Become a Retailer
  • Articles
    • Reviews
    • Training & Racing
    • Health & Nutrition
    • Race Reports
    • News and Notes
    • Ultra Running 101
    • Weekly Newsletter
    • UltraRunners of the Year
  • Podcast
  • Training Plans
  • Old School Ultras
  • Events
    • Upcoming Races
    • Map View
    • By State
    • By Cutoff
    • Stats
      • Finishes
      • Top Performances
      • Biggest Races
    • Race Director
      • Register
      • Login
  • Results
    • Latest Results
    • Runner Search
    • All Time List
  • Shop
    • Back Issues
    • Digital Back Issues
    • Hats
    • Stickers
    • Odds and Ends
    • Cart
  • About
    • About UR
    • Columnists
    • Staff
    • Ambassadors
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    • Change of Address
    • Editorial Submissions
  • 0
Subscribe Today

Canadians Claim South Pole Record

UltraRunning Magazine 08/15/2013
UltraRunning Magazine 08/15/2013
533

From BBC News, January 9. Three Canadian men have claimed a new record for the fastest trek across Antarctica to the South Pole.

Ray Zahab, Kevin Vallely and Richard Weber said they had completed the 1,130 km (700 miles) journey in 33 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes.

They say they suffered white-out but survived on a high-calorie diet of deep-fried bacon, cheese and butter.

The Canadians’ journey took them from Hercules Inlet on Antarctica’s Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole.

“If you took a cloud, wrapped it around your head and then duct-taped it, that’s what a white-out is like,” Zahab, 39, told The Associated Press by satellite phone from Antarctica.

He had previously run across the Sahara desert but told reporters his feet were more worn out by his latest adventure.

Tom Sjogren, founder of ExplorersWeb.com, a New York-based Web site that compiles statistics on adventurers’ feats, said the men beat the previous record of 39 days, 7 hours and 49 minutes, which was set by American Todd Carmichael just last month.

The Canadian trio used their satellite phone to post photos and podcasts of their journey as they did it.

They pulled 170-lb (77-kg) sleds of equipment, with Zahab travelling on foot and on snowshoes while the other two men skied.

At night, they slept in a tent.

They endured altitude sickness, vertigo and massive, painful blisters.

They kept themselves fueled with a 7,000-calorie-a-day diet of deep-fried bacon, cheese and huge chunks of butter.”I’m dying for some pizza,” said Zahab, who added he was too excited to sleep.

FacebookTwitterEmail
UltraRunning Magazine

More from UltraRunning

Steep Life Media Acquires UltraRunning Magazine

Book Review: A Mile at a Time: A...

UltraRunning Magazine Launches Old School Ultras Calendar

What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — January...

What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — December...

2023 Western States Contest Winner

Recent Results

Weekly Newsletter

A roundup of the week's content and race results. Sent every Thursday.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Podcast

  • Ryan Montgomery: Racing with Purpose

  • Adam Popp & Dave Mackey

  • What’s the Issue w/ Amy Clark (June/July 2025)

  • What’s the Issue w/ Amy Clark (Apr/May 2025)

  • Reader’s Questions Answered with Dr. Nick Tiller

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Spotify

Back To Top
Ultra Running Magazine
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Renew
    • Gift Subscription
    • Subscriber Login
  • Magazine
    • All Issues
    • Purchase Back Issues
    • Find a Retailer
    • Become a Retailer
  • Articles
    • Reviews
    • Training & Racing
    • Health & Nutrition
    • Race Reports
    • News and Notes
    • Ultra Running 101
    • Weekly Newsletter
    • UltraRunners of the Year
  • Podcast
  • Training Plans
  • Old School Ultras
  • Events
    • Upcoming Races
    • Map View
    • By State
    • By Cutoff
    • Stats
      • Finishes
      • Top Performances
      • Biggest Races
    • Race Director
      • Register
      • Login
  • Results
    • Latest Results
    • Runner Search
    • All Time List
  • Shop
    • Back Issues
    • Digital Back Issues
    • Hats
    • Stickers
    • Odds and Ends
    • Cart
  • About
    • About UR
    • Columnists
    • Staff
    • Ambassadors
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    • Change of Address
    • Editorial Submissions

Shopping Cart

Close

No products in the cart.

Close