5 Runners Break Record for World's Highest Marathon

Imagine running 26.2 miles starting from the top of the world's highest volcano, where the air is so thin you're working with just 44% of normal oxygen levels. That's exactly what five runners just accomplished on Ojos del Salado in South America.

The team started their marathon descent from 6,893 meters above sea level, facing temperatures that plunged to negative 12 degrees Celsius. With brutal windchill making it feel like negative 30 degrees, every step was a battle against nature and their own exhausted bodies.

Getting to the starting line required nearly two weeks of altitude training followed by a grueling 12-hour overnight climb in ferocious winds. By the time they crossed the finish line, the runners had been awake for over 48 hours and moving for more than 28 hours straight.

BecomingX CEO Paul Gurney, TV adventurer Aldo Kane, and ultra-endurance athlete Mark Beaumont formed the first group to finish after 16 hours and 34 minutes. South African adventurer Sibusiso Vilane and ultra-runner Sara Storey completed the course about 90 minutes later.

"That was one of the toughest things I have ever done in my life," Kane said afterward. "Even moving at that altitude is so draining."

A support crew of climbers and guides made the feat possible, following the runners in off-road vehicles to provide critical aid throughout the night. The team had to constantly adjust their clothing and hydration as they descended through different climate zones in complete darkness.

Why This Inspires

This challenge came from the same organization that recently organized the world's deepest marathon in a Swedish mine 1,119 meters below sea level. Their mission is proving that extraordinary goals become achievable when people commit fully, even when the obstacles seem impossible.

The new record crushes the previous title holders by a significant margin. Both the Everest Marathon (starting at 5,545 meters) and India's Ladakh Marathon (reaching 5,370 meters) now sit more than 1,500 meters lower than this incredible achievement.

When humans decide to push boundaries, even mountains become starting lines.