“I’m in the middle of the Arctic Ocean,” says Patrick Charlebois on the phone. A sentence as singular as the adventure he has just had…
As we took the call from La Presse on Wednesday, Charlebois was on his way back from the northernmost point on earth, where he became the first Canadian to win the North Pole Marathon with a time of 3:48. min 41 s, August 17.
The Trifluvien is on the Commandant Charcot, a polar exploration vessel that accommodates 200 passengers and 200 crew members. This is the same ship he took to travel to the North Pole from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, before the marathon. The navigation between the Norwegian archipelago and the North Pole lasted six days.
“On board, there is a laboratory with scientists from many universities around the world,” he explains. They do experiments. Tonight, I am with scientists who share their knowledge. It’s a bit like the principle of cruising. We must – and we are interested – discuss with them different aspects of the climate. »
“It’s a five star,” he adds. […] Tonight, we are going to eat a rare medium rib eye. Besides, it was a challenge for the marathon not to eat too much because everything is good. »
Initially, the North Pole Marathon was to be held last April, in the spring period, but the event had to be canceled. The organizers have therefore decided to organize this 17th edition in summer for the first time in history. “It never happened… and we know why now!” exclaims Mr. Charlebois.
On the morning of the marathon itself, the 12 participants – dozens withdrew with the change of seasons – still did not know if they would manage to run on the Arctic Ocean ice cap as planned “it was so unsafe”.
“The boat is stopped at the North Pole, at the 90th parallel. The exploration team is out to establish a security perimeter. The biggest perimeter they could do is 500 meters. They couldn’t do more than that. The compromise was: either we ran on the boat, which I was not at all tempted by, or we ran on the ice floe, ”says Mr. Charlebois.
“Honestly, at the time, I thought it was ridiculous. But that’s when you run to the North Pole and see that just 100 meters away, it’s the ocean…it’s the water! Even on the course itself, I saw someone sink five feet into the water.
“It was very unstable ice conditions. But we agreed to run with life jackets, which is a first. »
Patrick Charlebois, who has done marathons all over the planet, was going to the North Pole to win. ” That’s clear ! he exclaims. However, he was up against some excellent runners, including another Canadian, Dalip Shekhawat. And at 53, he was the oldest of the bunch.
If this marathon was “not at all” the most difficult he had done, he had to use strategy to win.
“Psychologically it was more difficult because it was 82 loops, but I used that to my advantage. I know I wasn’t the toughest runner, but I was the fastest. Of course I was the fastest. The advantage of having a 500 meter loop is that you can see very well where your opponents are. »
Mr. Charlebois ran the first 21 kilometers in 1 hour 45 minutes and passed his closest pursuer, the Chinese Xiaobin Qiu, four times.
He finally finished more than an hour ahead of Qiu (4:54:30).
It’s been five years since there was a marathon at the North Pole for various reasons: COVID-19, the war in Ukraine… Crossing the finish line, explains Mr. Charlebois, symbolized above all “a victory for all the runners in the world”.
Needless to say that the adventure lived up to the expectations of the Trifluvien. Especially since this first summer marathon at the North Pole was probably also the last…
Throughout his adventure at the North Pole, Patrick Charlebois had in mind Les lunette roses, a group of “so inspiring” Mauricie women who raise funds for cancer research. Having himself lost a friend to colon cancer, the athlete asked to join the group temporarily, which he accepted.
His message, for several months: “People who want to encourage me, give to the Pink Glasses. »
Before hanging up, we ask Mr. Charlebois if he has another project on the go. Another crazy project.
“I don’t have anything in mind yet…” he says before pausing, then adds, “Actually, I’m working on something, but it’s very, very, very embryonic.” he.
“That would be space running. It is in negotiation with the organizers, but we are really in the early stages. »
The whole thing would happen by 2025. He would then be 55 years old.
“I told the organizers that [I would] be there. »
By completing the North Pole Marathon, Patrick Charlebois entered the select international Grand Slam Marathon club, reserved for athletes who have run at least 42 km on the seven continents of the planet as well as on the Arctic Ocean. Five years ago, the Quebecer had done seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Only the Arctic Ocean remained. “I’m happy to join,” he said of it. We are not many in the world. »
