Marathon runners compete on drifting sea ice at North Pole

Twenty-three runners from seven countries took part in races at the Arctic's geographic North Pole, organisers have said, in an event they dubbed as the "world's coolest marathon".

The races took place on drifting sea ice at the geographic North Pole in the Arctic, with competitors arriving from Norway aboard the French polar vessel Le Commandant Charcot.

They disembarked the ship to run laps of a 1,055 metre loop on the ice below, wearing thermal gear and life vests as a safety requirement, while armed guards kept watch for polar bears around the perimeter.

Denmark's Rikke Dam won the women's title with a time of 6:54:02 and Wang Shengxian of China won the men's race in 3:52:22. Organisers said the course disappeared with the ice just hours after the races ended.