ARCHIVED RACE: Northwest Passage Marathon @ Arctic Watch Lodge, Somerset Island, Nunavut, Canada on 11 July 2012

The Northwest Passage Marathon is North America’s most northerly marathon and the only marathon in Nunavut. This is a true wilderness route as it consists of a rough trail run with no roads. The trail is marked with Inukshuks and flags. The surface is generally smooth and covered with pebble-sized rocks. There are some shallow creek crossings. The 55 kilometre course leaves Arctic Watch, goes north along the shore of the Cunningham Inlet for 10 kilometre to Polar Bear point. The runners turn west and go beside the famed Northwest Passage for the next 18 kilometres. The trail follows a series of old raised beaches of sandstone pebbles. There are icebergs on the water and ancient encampments on the shore. In 2005, runners saw dozens of beluga whales, and many seals. At Cape Marie, all runners wade the Marie River (maximum knee deep), then turn south and inland along the Red Valley (so named for the red stone and soil). Muskox sightings in this area are common. The trail then swings back east, climbs gently over a height of land before dropping back down towards the Cunningham River. The final couple of kilometres are along the Cunningham back to Arctic Watch.