THE RACE from The Bahamas to Antarctica

By Keesha Claudia Bethell

Over the past 20 years, Charles Johnson has run more than 40 marathons around the globe. The 66-year-old Bahamian runs an average of 108 miles per month or 27 miles per week on the streets of Nassau on the island of New Providence.

From 2015 to 2022, he completed the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM). That accomplishment made Johnson a six-star runner, an elite group on the international landscape.

To reach that status, runners must complete a “series of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world – Tokyo Marathon, B.A.A. Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon”. According to the AbbottWMM website, there are a total of 429 six-star finishers represented by 48 nationalities. Johnson is one of five Bahamians to be in that number. He and the other four Bahamians are listed on the website’s Hall of Fame.

Even with those accomplishments under his belt, or should we say under his feet, he tells Up and Away that his participation in the Antarctica Marathon & Half Marathon in early 2023, trumped them all.

On March 16, 2023, Johnson joined 139 runners from around the globe to participate, making him the second Bahamian to dare such a thing. Pushing against the elements in sub-zero temperatures, he completed 26.2 miles – the full marathon.

Johnson lives on New Providence, which is 21 miles in length, where the temperature ranges from 80°F to 85°F in the summer. Meanwhile, Antarctica’s annual temperature ranges from about −10°C on the coast to −60°C at the highest parts of the interior.

“The course is the most challenging course I think one would ever find in a marathon because of the conditions,” said Johnson. “I don’t know if you could ever really train to go run up and down slippery hills. The goal is to finish it. Crossing that finish line is what makes you a winner in that marathon.”

The preparation for a run on the coldest continent in the world was all about improvising. Due to the terrain of the course, he was advised to do endurance training by running as many hills as possible. Here’s the thing – The Bahamas is an archipelago of 700 islands and cays. The country’s highest point is Mount Alvernia, which is situated on Cat Island. The distance between New Providence and Cat Island is approximately 138 miles. The best solution for training was running the Eastern and Sir Sidney Poitier Bridges – they connect New Providence to Paradise Island.

According to the website for the Bahamas Bridge Authority, 70 feet is the highest point of each bridge.

For six months, Johnson trained by running four days a week and going to the gym three days a week. After extensive research, he decided that Craft – a clothing line offering winter running gear – would be the best choice for his Arctic journey. The clothing he wore for the marathon consisted of layering, which included: a top and lower under garment, long running tights that were woollen on the inside and waterproof on the outside, a water-resistant long-sleeved shirt, a vest for additional comfort, water-resistant socks, gloves, and woollen head gear to cover his neck and head.

To get to Antarctica, Johnson literally travelled to the end of the world and boarded a ship. The six-star runner flew from The Bahamas to Ushuaia, Argentina. Ushuaia is located on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the southernmost tip of South America – nicknamed “The End of the World”.

From there, the marathoners boarded the MV Ocean Victory ship and travelled for three days. Along that journey, the group crossed Drake Passage. Drake Passage is said to be “the most powerful convergence of seas” and “one of the most treacherous voyages for ships to make” due to its currents and waves that reach up to 40 feet.

After crossing the passage, the group arrived off the shores of King George Island, Antarctica. Johnson was one of two participants of African descent.

“Leaving the ship to get to the marathon required all passengers to follow strict protocols to get clearance from the expedition team,” Johnson explained. “We had to wear additional clothing on top of our running gear. You had to exit the ship which was approximately one mile away from the shoreline and get onto a Zodiac which is a small rubber boat which transported us to the shore. Then, we walked through ice cold water, so we had to put on waterproof boots, waterproof pants, a waterproof heavy jacket, heavy gloves, and more head covering. Once we got to the shoreline, you had to strip down to your running gear.”

The marathon was quite unique for the experienced runner. A trail was marked out by race coordinators on the morning of the run. There were no permanent structures or spectators along the route, except for about 25 race coordinators and volunteers.

“The course was a four-mile loop which started at the elevation of zero and maxed out at an elevation of approximately 4,000 feet,” said Johnson. “We ran two miles of rolling hills and no flat surfaces. We repeated that loop six times to complete the marathon.”

At one point, Johnson found himself on the wrong side of the trail and in a sticky situation.

“Into about three-quarters of the race, with all the cold weather, the rain, the wind, it began to affect my sight to an extent that my vision became blurred, and I could not see the trail clearly to determine as accurately as I should have been able to.”

During his fourth lap, his shoe got stuck in seven inches of mud.

“My foot came out of the shoe and I’m thinking I cannot put my sock into that cold mud,” he said. “I had to find a way to hop. I had to bend down to tie my laces with great difficulty. Fortunately, I was able to do that, but it is very painful to have to bend after four hours of running in the cold.”

There were also instances of slipping and sliding along the way. Johnson said he was able to finish the marathon with no injuries because of pure mindset and prayers.

“I was running against myself,” he said. “It was all about blocking out the weather. I didn’t compare myself to the marathoners around me. I kept reminding myself about my goal – finishing the race.”

He proudly showed Up and Away a photo of him standing in front of the Antarctica Marathon & Half Marathon sign. Around his neck is a medal – the symbol of his success in completing the marathon. In his hands, the Bahamian flag flies in the Arctic winds. On his face, there is a smile of pride, relief, and satisfaction.

Now that Johnson has completed the Antarctica Marathon, he still wants to rack up some more mileage and has set a new goal – to run marathons on all seven continents. He has four down and three to go. He plans to complete the seven by 2024.

In October 2023, he will run a marathon in Cape Town, Africa. Next year, he plans to complete that goal by running in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in June, and Sydney, Australia, in September. From there, he will explore more unique, challenging marathons that will take him across deserts and the Great Wall of China.

He encourages others to participate in marathons locally and abroad.

“It supports a healthier lifestyle,” said the Bahamian international runner. “It’s fun. It’s adventurous. You meet new people. You get to learn about new cultures. The sky’s the limit. Don’t worry about age. Age ain’t nuttin but a number. Just be like Nike and do it – one foot at a time”.

Up and Away says this 66-year-old is the epitome of a new-age Bahamian saying – “242 to da world”. UA