Worlds Deepest Marathon
We have seen some uniquely interesting marathons and long distance races over the years here at BroBible. But none really compared to this underground marathon in Sweden where participants take a mine shaft elevator 1,120 meters (3,647 feet) below ground to run a marathon.
The most recent unique marathons that come to mind was the 50K Taco Bell Ultra in Denver that required a unique form of culinary torture on top of the running. Last Summer’s Marathon du Médoc in France with oysters and wine galore also rings a bell. But again, this underground marathon in Sweden sounds like something created for Tolkien species.
The World’s Deepest Marathon: Underground Marathon inside Sweden’s Garpenberg Mine
For context, the Empire State Building is 443 meters tall. The Eiffel Tower in Paris is 330 meters tall. A Typhoon Class Submarine can dive to 400 meters below sea level. The deepest part of the entire North Sea is 700 meters below sea level. And the single deepest part of the entire Atlantic Sea is 3,646 meters deep.
In order to get to the World’s Deepest Marathon, competitors take the mine shaft elevator at Sweden’s Garpenberg Mine, a zinc mine, 1,120 meters below sea level, or ~3674.54 feet below ground.
This race took place over the weekend, on October 25th, with 60 runners competing in the underground marathon being called the ‘World’s Deepest Marathon.’ Those selected to compete in this Swedish mine marathon include mining CEOs, tech entrepreneurs, charity workers, and more, according to the race’s website.
Reality sets in…
In order to get to the start of the race, it is a full 2 minute and 42 second elevator ride below the earth’s surface. Those seconds must feel like hours as the elevator descends into the unknown.
Once down there, temperatures will reach 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30°C). They also run in nearly complete silence. Aside from hearing each other run, breathe, and converse. The mine absorbs all noise. Can you imagine an eerier way to run a marathon than this?
The Running Channel (TikTok/YouTube) sent marathon runner Sarah J Hartley to compete in the World’s Deepest Marathon and she documented the elevator ride and what runnin git was like:
@runningchannel A 2 minute and 42 second lift down to the start of the world’s deepest marathon…
And
@runningchannel World’s deepest marathon! 🤯 Would you run a marathon in a mine 1120m underground?? @Sarah J Hartley
For the runners out there who live and die by Strava, Sarah noted in the comments that she tracked this as an “indoor run.” Then she trimmed the route afterward to a full marathon so that it could be properly documented on Strava.
Because everyone knows that if it doesn’t get recorded on Strava than it didn’t really happen.
South African runner/engineer Ledile Dikgale spoke with her South African news after completing the marathon. She said she was approached about running the marathon and was “very excited” to challenge herself mentally. Calling it a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to run an underground marathon.