The 2014 Antarctica Marathon was the toughest yet for Brent Hawley.
Hawley, the morning show host for The Thunder country music station, started running marathons for Team Diabetes in 2009, and on March 9 and 10 he ran in the cold and rugged terrain of Antarctica.
"Course-wise, it was probably the toughest marathon I have ever run in my life," he said, noting the first mile consisted of 200 metres of climb. "It was a steep, hilly course."
While the weather was a pleasant -5 C, the course was covered in mud.
"Running 26 miles in mud was not easy," said Hawley, adding of the 75 registered runners, 15 quit or had to drop down to the half marathon.
Hawley finished with a time of a 6:37:04; the winner came in at 3:17:55.
In the year before the race, Hawley raised $24,000 for the local chapter of the Canadian Diabetes Association and he's grateful he got to experience the race and the trip to Antarctica.
"It was probably the most incredible experience of my life, the most beautiful place on the planet," said Hawley.
While there area is isolated from other people and the usual stamps of civilization, there were whales and penguins everywhere, he said.
"After being there, I don't care who you are, you're going to turn into a penguin lover. These things are the funniest, cutest-looking creatures in the world."
Hawley's next marathon will be the Great Wall of China in 2015.
--with files from CKPR Radio
