Polish endurance athlete Pawel Durakiewicz has added another extraordinary title to his collection of barefoot world records, completing the fastest marathon barefoot on ice/snow. The feat was accomplished on a frozen lake in Golsfjellet, Norway, with a final time of 4 hours, 57 minutes, and 54 seconds.
The 46-year-old adventurer has been a Guinness World Records holder since 2024, when he completed the longest barefoot journey, a 3,409.75 km (2,118.72 mi) trek across the Iberian Peninsula. His latest accomplishment, which he described as running “on glass,” adds to his list of records, which also includes the fastest barefoot half marathon on ice and the fastest barefoot Olympic-distance triathlon.
During the grueling 26.2-mile (42.2 km) marathon in Norway, Durakiewicz faced extreme conditions. He reported his feet began to bleed at the 10 km mark and he considered quitting at 12 km, but his mind went “silent” at the 15 km mark, allowing him to push through the pain. He did not suffer from frostbite but did require medical attention for his bloodied toes.
Durakiewicz undertakes these extreme challenges to support his charity, the Diamond Soul Foundation, which helps people recovering from addiction, a cause close to his heart. He aims to prove that willpower and determination can help anyone overcome their personal limitations.
