Full Breakdown
Stephanie Case Targets Antarctic Ice Ultra Record, Aiming to Put Women on the Map
6/9/2026, 9:45:38 PM
Antarctic Ice Ultra Record Attempt
Stephanie Case, a Canadian human rights lawyer and ultramarathoner, will race the 100-mile Antarctic Ice Ultra in November. The loop circles a base camp at Schirmacher Oasis, Queen Maud Land, at ~330 ft altitude, with katabatic winds and temperatures around –25 °C. The overall course record is 22 h 40 m 47 s (Yusheng Ni, 2025). No woman has entered the event.
Background & Context
Case shifted from a mergers-and-acquisitions job in New York to ultrarunning after a 250 km race in Vietnam (2008). She has volunteered in Afghanistan, South Sudan and Gaza, and founded the charity Free to Run (2014) to enable women in conflict zones to train outdoors. In May 2025 she gained attention for breastfeeding her infant while winning the 60-mile Ultra-Trail Snowdonia.
Data & Statistics
- Distance: 100 mi (? 160 km).
- Expected temperature: –25 °C; severe katabatic winds.
- Course record: 22 h 40 m 47 s (Yusheng Ni, 2025).
- Only 68 athletes have finished the 100-km version.
Official Statements & Responses
The North Face, Case’s sponsor, is producing custom ice-specific shoes. Race officials confirm no woman has previously entered, so there is no women’s record. Case says her aim is “to put a mark down that says, ‘We were here, we did this,’” rather than to chase the overall time. She has been training in northern Norway to simulate cold conditions and is working with The North Face on a shoe designed for Antarctic ice.
Criticism & Opposition
Some critics argued she should stay home with her baby and that she raced too soon. Case described the feedback as “a loud contingent telling me I should be at home with my baby, that I’d raced too soon.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’ve run in extreme environments before but Antarctica is on another level,” — Stephanie Case, Canadian human rights lawyer
- “Antarctica used to be called ‘the womanless continent’. This 100-mile race has only ever been attempted by men,” — Stephanie Case
- “Nothing fully simulates running a 100 miles in Antarctica other than running in Antarctica,” — Stephanie Case
- “Luckily, I had the phone in my sports bra on the left side and I hit the tree on the right side and was able to warm the phone up enough to turn it on, give my GPS coordinates, call the helicopter and get airlifted to the hospital where I was in intensive care for 10 days. It was really bad. If my phone hadn’t turned on, I’d be dead.” — Stephanie Case
Why It Matters
Case’s effort challenges the notion of Antarctica as a “womanless continent” and highlights gender equity in extreme sport. Her success could inspire other women and reinforce the link between athletic achievement and humanitarian advocacy.
What’s Next
Case will leave for Antarctica in November after finalizing her custom shoes and completing a Norway training block. She plans to record decisions and layering tactics to inform future women-focused ultrarunning programs through Free to Run.
