Brave the cold winter, fearless of the harsh chill

(October 30, 2014, Shanghai, China) In the recently concluded Arctic Circle Marathon, Yu Jia, a renowned CCTV5 host and experienced runner, wore a full set of adidas Climaheat running and outdoor gear. With an overall time of 8 hours, 12 minutes, and 16 seconds...

 

    The Arctic Circle Marathon, the world’s only polar marathon, is known for its “brutal” running conditions and stringent entry requirements. The marathon route is located on Greenland, north of Denmark, where the average winter temperature is around minus 20 degrees Celsius, with year-round snow cover and a complex mix of flat and sloped terrain. As a result, the selection process for participants is also extremely rigorous: total registrations are capped at 140 people, and applicants must be well-prepared with extensive marathon experience. This makes the event a formidable challenge for many runners. Prior to this edition (2004–2013), no mainland Chinese runner had ever participated in this race, nor had any Asian runner successfully conquered the Arctic Circle half or full marathon challenges to earn the Polar Bear Medal.

    Yu Jia’s “Brave the Cold Winter Journey” to compete in the Arctic Circle Marathon also faced multiple challenges. Firstly, due to the race schedule, the full marathon was held back-to-back with the half marathon, requiring participants to tackle both races within just two days—a huge test of both physical endurance and mental resilience. Meanwhile, a sudden heavy snowfall and sharp temperature drop hit the Arctic region just before the full marathon on October 26, with local temperatures plummeting to minus 28 degrees Celsius. Continuous snowfall created additional problems: the pre-race route inspection showed that conditions had changed significantly, with deep snow covering many areas up to the knees and hard-to-detect ice patches on the ground. The harsh weather and challenging terrain became the biggest obstacles the runners had to overcome. To address the unpredictable climate and rugged landscape of the Arctic, adidas prepared a range of gear for Yu Jia’s “Brave the Cold Winter Journey,” including the outdoor Terrex Fast R GTX and the running shoe Ch Rocket Boost, ensuring he could conquer all terrains—slopes, flats, snow, and ice—and brave the temperature challenges brought by the wind and snow.

    During the full marathon held on October 27, Yu Jia made the groundbreaking choice to wear the adidas outdoor shoe Terrex Fast R GTX and the running shoe Ch Rocket Boost. This marked a first in his 12 marathon journeys. Though the two products have very different characteristics, they perfectly suited the race conditions, helping him defy the cold, push forward, and conquer the winter. The Terrex Fast R GTX, part of adidas’ popular outdoor Terrex series, offers excellent grip and waterproof performance, meeting the various traction demands posed by extreme surface conditions. The Ch Rocket Boost combines outstanding insulation with powerful energy return, providing Yu Jia with an extra boost during the final sprint to help him complete the race.