Transbaikal railway worker completes 50-km extreme marathon in Yakutia
A train driver from Transbaikal Railway finished second in his age category after running 50 kilometers in a winter extreme marathon in Yakutia at -42°C (-44°F).
Apr 23, 2026 0
The extreme marathon was held for the seventh time this year in Yakutia«s freezing conditions.
Source:
Train driver Andrei Maksimenko from the Chernyshevsk depot of Transbaikal Railway ran 50 kilometers at an air temperature of -42°C (-44°F). This was reported on December 3 in the company«s Telegram channel.
«Andrei was among 26 participants running the 50-kilometer distance. »The weather was «lucky»: only minus 42. By local standards, it«s low. But a Transbaikal native isn»t scared by severe frost. Moreover, runners could make stops at warming points during the race,« the publication states.
The Transbaikal native participated in the 7th winter extreme marathon «Oymyakon – Pole of Cold,» which took place in Yakutia.
Andrei Maksimenko covered the entire distance in 5 hours 59 minutes, ultimately taking second place in his age category. He achieved this result thanks to regular outdoor winter sports. Moreover, he is seriously passionate about mountaineering and trail running.
«The athlete-railway worker thanked the company Russian Railways (RZD) for the opportunity to participate in the coldest ultramarathon in the world,» the publication notes.
The winter extreme marathon «Pole of Cold – Oymyakon» took place in Yakutia from January 16 to 17 for the seventh time. This year, 94 athletes from 26 districts of Yakutia, 43 regions of Russia, as well as participants from other countries started. To participate, they paid from 25,000 to 58,000 rubles (approximately $250 to $580 at current rates).
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