If you’ve ever stepped onto a cold floor in winter and immediately regretted it, imagine doing that for 21.1 kilometers on frozen sea ice. Pawel Durakiewicz did just that, and not just for kicksโhe set a new Guinness World Record while he was at it.
Last weekend at the Sea Ice Marathon in Luleรฅ, Sweden, the 46-year-old Polish runner ran a half marathon completely barefoot on ice and snow.
He clocked in at 1:50:29โshaving 11 seconds off the previous record.
The Sea Ice Marathon isnโt your average half marathon. The entire course is set on frozen sea ice over the Gulf of Bothnia, which separates Sweden and Finland. Instead of dealing with pavement and mild inclines, runners battle slick ice, snowdrifts, and biting Arctic winds.
Race day was particularly brutal this year. The start line temperature was -10ยฐC (14ยฐF), 5ยฐC colder than the seasonal average in Luleรฅ. While most runners layered up with insulated footwear, Durakiewicz opted forโฆnothing at all.
So why would anyone voluntarily do this? Well, Durakiewicz isnโt just testing his pain threshold for funโheโs made a name for himself in the world of extreme barefoot challenges.
He also holds the record for the longest barefoot runโ2,118 miles (3,409 kilometers)โand the fastest barefoot Olympic-distance triathlon (2:57:40).
He also ran in support of his charity, the Diamond Soul Foundation, which focuses on combating substance abuse through fitness and nutrition.
The Science (and Sanity) Behind Barefoot Running on Ice
Running barefoot on ice for nearly two hours presents plenty of risks, frostbite being at the top of the list. At -10ยฐC, exposed skin can develop frostbite in less than 30 minutes. So how did Durakiewicz manage over three times that?
The answer is years of training.
His feet have adapted to extreme conditions, improving circulation and pain tolerance. Exposing extremities to cold in a controlled way can increase capillary density, keeping blood flowing to the toes longer than it would for an untrained person.
That said, before you toss your shoes and start running through snowbanks, remember this took years of gradual adaptation. Attempting it unprepared could result in injuries, nerve damage, or a trip to the doctor explaining why you no longer have toes.
So, letโs be clearโthis is not something to try at home.
Durakiewicz is an outlierโsomeone who has spent years preparing for challenges like this. Running barefoot on ice without the right training is a bad idea, full stop.
That said, his story is a great reminder that limits are often further than we think. Maybe you wonโt be running a barefoot half marathon on ice, but maybe you can challenge yourself in other waysโwhether thatโs running your first 5K, trying a new sport, or stepping out of your comfort zone.
So the next time you hesitate to step outside in the cold, just be glad youโre not running a half marathon barefoot on ice.
