Last month, “06880” reported on David Friezo’s plan to run a marathon at the North Pole.
Yeah, you read that correctly.
This morning, the Westporter emailed “06880”:
I made it!
I completed the 2014 UVU North Pole Marathon. I ran alongside 47 competitors from 20 countries at the top of the world. Through snow, ice and -30 Celsius wind chills – I persevered.
David Friezo in action.
My total race time was 11:20:26. It was the most challenging 11+ hours of my life.
The conditions were tougher than usual. The UVU race director mapped out a 12-lap course marked with flags spread over 26.2 miles. There was a lot of soft deep snow and ice chunks. As time went on the course deteriorated, becoming even more and more difficult.
Keeping warm in the elements was challenging. Visibility was difficult as my goggles and face kept freezing up, including my eyelashes. Nonetheless, I managed to finish with only some stage-one frostbite on my nose and one toe. Not bad!
The race was an exhilarating experience, and the competitors were an interesting bunch. The beauty of the North Pole is hard to put into words. The entire race took place in a sea of white that left me breathless.
The top of the world.
I wish I could have shared the experience firsthand with all of you. I want to thank you all those who contributed to my North Pole Marathon pursuit, by donating to the Friezo Family Support Fund at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
While the race has ended, there are still children with pediatric cancer who need our help. If you’d like to donate, please click here to make a difference. Thanks!
Welcome home, David. The weather hasn’t been great, but it’s getting there. See you at the beach!
David Friezo, at the finish. (All photos courtesy of North Pole Marathon.)
Westporters sure do participate in a wild variety of marathons. It would make an interesting speaking program.
my uncle julie did this.