Another example of how superior Canadians are when dealing with cold weather..............

 When a marathon isn’t extreme enough, the only logical move is to turn around and run the other way.

Stranded at Union Glacier camp while waiting for a flight back to Punta Arenas, a group of marathon runners decided to kill time the hard way—by staging the first-ever Antarctica Backwards Mile Race. Set just 600 miles from the South Pole, Union Glacier became the unlikely venue for a race that flipped convention on its head. The challenge: one mile, run entirely backwards, on the coldest continent on the planet. Backwards running—also known as retro or reverse running—might sound like a modern gimmick, but it dates back to the Victorians in the 1880s, who found it both entertaining and beneficial. Today, it’s praised for improving balance, coordination and strength, while reducing joint impact. That said, it comes with one major drawback: you can’t see where you’re going. In Antarctica’s razor-sharp air, speed meant little without control. The fastest forward runners quickly learned that backwards racing is a different beast altogether, with every step carrying the threat of a spectacular wipeout. When the snow settled, it was Canadian Frédéric Aubry, an amateur triathlete from Montreal, who claimed victory, clocking 10 minutes, 6 seconds. He held off Charlie Brown of the USA, while fellow Canadian Nicolas Luna rounded out the podium. In the women’s race, Amy Ellett ran away—backwards—with the win. There were no medals, no prize money, and no podium ceremony. Just frozen lungs, tired legs, and the ultimate prize in sport: bragging rights at the bottom of the world.