The Chinggis Khan Ice Marathon is the centrepiece of an incredible winter adventure to the country's wild north to run across the frozen surface of the mighty Khovsgol Lake!
Although I have worked in adventure tourism for most of my adult life, marathons, as most of my fellow travellers will attest, have never been high on my list of must-do activities.
When I was younger, I was a short-distance runner. However, after discovering the enjoyment of food, I now only run in emergencies...
So, what changed?
The Origins of the Mongolia Ice Marathon
In 2014, Koryo first took its clients to participate in the Pyongyang Marathon. As numbers grew, a few marathon-running passengers asked if we had any other unique events.
Although we searched, many other countries had well-established marathons that were well-supported and easily accessible.
I had a friend in Russia who had started an ice marathon. After a few vodkas and a lot of planning, I took my idea back to the Koryo nerve centre. And we sat down and began planning.
Where? How? When?
These were the most significant questions.
And thus the Mongolia Ice Marathon was born.
WHERE: Khovsgol Lake, Mongolia
After some research, I remembered a lake I had visited many years ago.
Khovsgol Lake was a lake I had visited on one of my own journeys. This was during free time between tours, about 5 years prior.
My visit was in August, and this beautiful, stunning body of water surrounded by taiga forests and rocky mountains had only added to my love of Mongolia and the surrounding countries.
WHEN: Winter.
I now learned from Mongolian friends that in the winter months, the lake freezes solid.
There is a small town on its shores, which in turn houses a small hospital and is serviced by a sealed road.
Freezes solid, you say?
Now we have the where and when. We just need the how!
In the winter, Mongolia, or its capital, Ulaanbaatar, has a rather harsh record, namely being the coldest capital in the world, with temperatures dropping to below -45.
It was decided that after Koryo's yearly winter horse tour, I would head to Mongolia's chilly north and look at the feasibility of holding this chilled event.
HOW: A Trip to Khovsgol Lake, Mongolia
So, the day eventually arrived to visit Khovsgol Lake, Mongolia.
After saying a fond farewell to a well-warmed and travelled group, my nephew Temujin drove me through a smoggy Ulaanbaatar to the Dragon Bus Terminal.
There we sat in his car with the heating on full for a bus to a town called... Moron!
Considering my upcoming plan, I felt that the city's name was a suitable fit for my idea.
I had believed the bus would not be too great, but I knew the views would be astounding.
However, as with many things in Mongolia, things are always the reverse...
Mongolia surprised me as a lovely purple South Korean-made bus turned up all shiny and well-heated.
My initial thought was, oh wow, was this going to be a winter wonderland journey?
A Long Bus Journey
I could already see the journey ahead...
I knew that the industrial layer of Ulaanbaatar would be tough traffic, pollution and poverty. However, it was the stunning landscapes I was looking forward to.
Upon boarding, the rug was pulled from beneath me. I knew that I wouldn't be seeing any positivity or negativity...
It seems that during the winter months, the windows of the coach are lined with linen to prevent the extreme cold from penetrating.
So much for my good view!
So, my 16-hour journey began; my only entertainment was the numerous snacks from my wife.
I looked to make conversation with the gentleman to my right, but after receiving just a grunt and noticing some impressive colly-flower ears and bandaged knuckles, I thought he could do with some sleep.
Through the afternoon and into the night, we journeyed.
As much of the main road at that time seemed under a continuous state of renovation, the journey felt like I was at sea.
Great for a landlocked nation.
Arriving at Last
Throughout all of this, the driver seemed to maintain a constant speed, with no apparent sense of direction or orientation.
It felt like we were tipping unhealthy in each direction, and my new wrestling friend's head would regularly bounce on my shoulder and, at times, mine his.
Eventually, in the late evening, we made our first stop.
I disembarked the bus feeling rather seasick at a service station that appeared as though it needed a really good service.
Read here for part 2 of the adventure.
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