THE LAST DESERT (ANTARCTICA)
ANTARCTICA'S ONLY MULTI-STAGE FOOTRACE

ANTARCTICA ULTRAMARATHON

ULTRALITE (ANTARCTICA)

13 November 2026

DAYS TO GO

RACE INFO

RTP Home

Mary GADAMS

Event Director

United States, Resident in Hong Kong

Hernan GARCIA

Course Director

United States

Patrick BURNS, M.D.

Medical Doctor

United States

Ali LIDDLE

Expedition Leader

United Kingdom

Bev BRAMMER

United Kingdom

Andrea ANDREWS

Operations Manager

Chile, Resident in Australia

Jo SCOTT

United Kingdom

Thiago DIZ

Photographer

Brazil

Andre GEMMER

Videographer

Brazil

Rob JAMES

Event Manager, Antarctica Ultramarathon

4 Deserts Club

Wales, Resident in Hong Kong

Janka DOLEZAL

Germany

Cynthia THOMAS

Educator

United States

Federico GRUNEWALD

Sailor

Argentina

John WILLIAMSON

Entrepreneur

South Africa

Simon DAMODARAN

United Kingdom, Resident in Hong Kong

Mary GADAMS

Event Director

United States, Resident in Hong Kong

Mary Gadams founded RacingThePlanet in 2002. It has since grown into one of the world's leading organisers of multi-stage footraces, with 81 races held and more than 10,000 participants from around 100 countries. Its flagship 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series spans Namibia, Mongolia, Chile and Antarctica, and TIME magazine twice named it one of the Top Ten Endurance Events in the world. RacingThePlanet has also raised more than US$1 million for medical and education charities.

Before founding RacingThePlanet, Mary spent eight years in US investment banking. She then joined the Chairman's Office of the Samsung Group in Seoul as a global strategist, working on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and global strategy.

An accomplished endurance athlete, Mary captained three Eco-Challenge teams and has completed dozens of marathons and ultramarathons. These include the Boston Marathon three times, the Marathon des Sables several times and the Western States 100. She has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kinabalu, Mt. Toubkal, Mt. Fansipan, Sgurr Alasdair and Mt. Fuji (twice), and recently walked the Camino de Santiago.

Mary has lived in six countries and now calls Hong Kong home. She holds degrees from the US and the UK, and has studied Chinese, French, Spanish and Korean.

Hernan GARCIA

Course Director

United States

Originally from Argentina, Hernan Garcia works as an engineer in Tennessee, in the United States. An experienced sailor, he has sailed extensively around the world and qualified for the Olympics in Argentina. Hernan has more than 25 marathons under his belt and has completed the Sahara Race (Egypt) 2009, the Gobi March (China) 2011 and the Atacama Crossing (Chile) in 2012 and 2016.

He has served as Camp Manager at RacingThePlanet: Iceland 2013, RacingThePlanet: Madagascar 2014, RacingThePlanet: Lapland 2022, the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2023 and 2025, and RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025. He has been Course Director at the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2014, The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2022, RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race (Jordan) 2024 and The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2024. Hernan joins us again as Course Director for The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026.

Patrick BURNS, M.D.

Medical Doctor

United States

Patrick Burns, M.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California.

After studying at Tufts University School of Medicine (Boston, MA, US) and completing an Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA, US), he completed fellowship training in wilderness medicine at Stanford University.

Dr. Burns has served as medical staff at several RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathons, including RacingThePlanet: Ecuador 2015, the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2016 and 2019, the Gobi March 2017, the Namib Race (Namibia) 2022 and 2024, and the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2023 and 2026. He has also competed in RacingThePlanet: Patagonia 2017 and RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025, finishing both arduous races. When he is not working in the Emergency Department, he enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle. Skiing, running, hiking, rock climbing, distance cycling, triathlons and adventure races are among his favourite pursuits, along with travelling and cooking. Dr. Burns joins The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 as Medical Director.

Ali LIDDLE

Expedition Leader

United Kingdom

We are delighted to welcome Ali Liddle back as the Expedition Leader for The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 for the fifth time. Originally from the UK, Ali has been working on Antarctic and Arctic expedition cruises for more years than she cares to remember.

Ali spent 15 years living in the Falkland Islands where she worked as a Primary school teacher both teaching out in ‘camp’ and at the school in Stanley. Latterly, she was employed as Education Officer for Falklands Conservation and shared her time between classroom teaching and conservation. In 1997, she spent 9 months living on South Georgia where she ran the Post Office and took every opportunity to hike, ski and explore the surrounding peaks and coastline.

She has published three books to date: Plants of the Falkland Islands and two art and craft books for children using penguins and albatross as the inspiration. Ali is a keen runner, having completed three marathons in the Falkland Islands and two in the UK, and she also enjoys cycling, hiking and camping. She has recently relocated from Northumberland to the Isle of Skye where she is renovating a cottage and enjoying the hiking opportunities of the island.

Her particular interest is natural history and the wildlife, and she enjoys sharing her knowledge of and passion for the polar regions.

Bev BRAMMER

United Kingdom

Bev Brammer is a retired nutritionist from Manchester, UK. Retirement didn't suit her, so she now works part-time in customer services for a large retail company. After following her husband Tony's adventures as a RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon competitor, Bev experienced desert life for herself as a volunteer at the Atacama Crossing (Chile) in 2010. It sparked a lasting love of early-morning starts and roughing it.

Since then, Bev has volunteered at more than 20 RacingThePlanet and 4 Deserts Ultramarathons and has served as Volunteer Manager at several RacingThePlanet Ultramarathons. She has plenty of sporting achievements of her own: she has climbed Ben Nevis, trekked 60 miles along the Great Wall of China, and completed both half and full marathons. She also enjoys the gym, spin classes and hiking in the great outdoors.

We are delighted to welcome Bev to The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026.

Andrea ANDREWS

Operations Manager

Chile, Resident in Australia

Andrea Andrews was born in Chile and now lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children. Her RacingThePlanet journey began in 2010, when she volunteered at the Atacama Crossing in her home country and was instantly hooked.

She returned as a volunteer at RacingThePlanet: Nepal in 2011, then took on the races as a competitor. She completed RacingThePlanet: Ecuador in 2015 and RacingThePlanet: Patagonia in 2017, just eleven months after the birth of her first child.

Andrea has since assisted the RacingThePlanet management team. She was Operations Manager for The Last Desert (Antarctica) in 2024 and the Atacama Crossing in 2025, returns to that role for The Last Desert in 2026, and will do the same at the Atacama Crossing in 2027.

Away from RacingThePlanet, Andrea works full-time in major event operations. She is Course Operations Manager for the TCS Sydney Marathon and works on other major Sydney events, including the Nike After Dark Tour.

Adventure is a big part of family life. Her husband, Gareth, is a doctor and experienced polar explorer who has organised and taken part in many expeditions to some of the world's most remote places.

Having experienced RacingThePlanet as a volunteer, competitor and Operations Manager, Andrea loves being part of the community. She enjoys helping to create the same extraordinary experiences that first hooked her in the Atacama Desert in 2010.

Jo SCOTT

United Kingdom

We are excited to welcome Jo back for her ninth RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon. She has twice served as Volunteer Manager at the Gobi March (Mongolia), in 2024 and 2026. Based in the north of England, Jo is well practised at supporting runners in ultramarathons, usually in weather that is colder, wetter and much muddier than the deserts.

A full-time artist and illustrator, Jo previously worked with software providers for the arts and sporting industries, managing clients ranging from Tate Galleries to the Silverstone Race Circuit. She has also competed in triathlons and running events and is a keen long-distance hiker. When she's not out on the trails, she can often be found with a sketchbook in hand.

Jo joins her beloved husband, Dean, at The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026.

Thiago DIZ

Photographer

Brazil

Thiago Diz is an adventure and sports photographer from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His RacingThePlanet adventures began in 2013, when he joined the Atacama Crossing (Chile) as an official photographer. Since then, he has photographed the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2014, the Sahara Race (Jordan) 2015, RacingThePlanet: Ecuador 2015, the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2016, The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2016, the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2017, RacingThePlanet: Patagonia 2017, The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2018, the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2019, the Namib Race (Namibia) 2021, RacingThePlanet: Lapland 2022, the Namib Race (Namibia) 2022, the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2022, The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2022, the Namib Race (Namibia) 2024, RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race (Jordan) 2024, The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2024, the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2025 and the Namib Race (Namibia) 2026. We are excited to welcome Thiago back to The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 and look forward to seeing his awesome photos!

Andre GEMMER

Videographer

Brazil

Andre Gemmer, from Santa Catarina, Brazil, returns to Antarctica for The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026, his second time on the White Continent and his tenth RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon. As CEO and videographer of Green Filmes, Andre has spent more than 12 years producing audiovisual content. He focuses on sporting events ranging from trail running and major running festivals to tennis and volleyball. His first visit to Antarctica, for The Last Desert 2024, was a special milestone in his career. He is excited to return and once again capture powerful stories from one of the most beautiful and challenging places on the planet. Throughout the event, Andre will be filming for website updates, media clips and lasting memories for competitors.

Rob JAMES

Event Manager, Antarctica Ultramarathon

4 Deserts Club

Wales, Resident in Hong Kong

Rob’s first race was the Gobi March (China) 2006. Spending much of that week in the company of 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Champion Francesco Galanzino and the team of Kevin Lin, Ray Zahab, and Charlie Engle, he finished as the 3rd individual—and was hooked. Two years later, he raced the Atacama Crossing (Chile) and the Sahara Race (Egypt), then volunteered at the Gobi March (China) 2009 before returning to the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2010 with Peter Lee and Andy Whiteside as part of team *Help for Heroes*. Rob has since run trail races in China, Japan, Nepal, South Africa, Europe, Australia, and, of course, Hong Kong. In 2024, he completed the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series by finishing The Last Desert (Antarctica), a journey that began 18 years earlier. Alongside his running achievements, Rob has built a long and distinguished career—first with Manchester United and later with IMG—where he oversaw tennis and golf across Asia. Rob has lived and worked in Hong Kong for most of the past 34 years. He has not owned a car since 1995 and commutes daily by public transport. He is married with three children, and when not in Hong Kong can often be found on the trails of the Black Mountains in Wales. He loved Antarctica so much that he is returning to manage the Antarctica Ultramarathon.

Janka DOLEZAL

Germany

Janka Dolezal is a life coach from Cologne, Germany, who helps people heal from childhood trauma and live prosperous, fulfilling lives. The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 will be her 14th RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon. She has previously volunteered at:

the Namib Race (Namibia) in 2022, 2024 and 2026
the Atacama Crossing (Chile) in 2022 and 2023
the Gobi March (Mongolia) every year from 2023 to 2026
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2024
RacingThePlanet: Lapland 2022
RacingThePlanet: The 20-Year Race (Jordan) 2024
RacingThePlanet: Greece 2025

Full of energy, positivity and determination, Janka brings support and strength to every event. Is it even a RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon if Janka isn't there?!

Cynthia THOMAS

Educator

United States

The Antarctica Ultramarathon—and the expedition surrounding it—was a dream come true for American Cynthia (Cyd) Thomas. Two years ago, Cyd traveled with us, and now she’s returning to the white desert for the second time—this year as part of the volunteer team. Originally from Houston, Texas, Cyd has also lived in Puebla, Mexico, and Vancouver, Canada. Career‑wise, she spent years teaching seminary students and pastors in a hospital setting, and now proudly calls herself a “free bird.”

Swimming is her greatest passion, and it’s through her swimming buddy Richard Behringer that she first joined our expedition—along with their good friend Elizabeth Kostiuk. Cyd completed the Antarctica Ultramarathon in 2024, and she’s thrilled to be back to support this year’s competitors. She jokes that she’s a better swimmer than a hiker, but if anyone feels nervous, she’ll be the first to offer encouragement. We are absolutely delighted to have Cyd on our team—her enthusiasm, kindness, and sense of adventure make her a wonderful addition to The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026. It’s going to be amazing.

Federico GRUNEWALD

Sailor

Argentina

Federico (Fico) Grunewald is a sailor from Argentina who began racing dinghies as a child and—following the natural progression of club life—advanced to larger boats. Over time, he moved on to crewing aboard ocean‑going vessels for both racing and delivery voyages. He has completed ten Atlantic crossings and numerous long‑distance sailing races.

He currently teaches classroom courses for merchant marine officers and provides practical instruction on a 60‑foot ocean‑going sailboat. In his spare time and during vacations, he enjoys trekking in remote locations, and he also has a strong interest in writing in Spanish.

For this edition of the race, Fico will be supporting the Course Team in Antarctica, bringing his maritime experience and steady, capable presence to the challenges of the ice.

John WILLIAMSON

Entrepreneur

South Africa

South African John Williamson is an experienced endurance athlete who has completed the demanding Bull of Africa, a six‑day non‑stop adventure race in South Africa, as well as competing at a national level in the Land Rover G4 Challenge and the Southern Storm stage race. His first introduction to RacingThePlanet was as a volunteer at the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2011, followed soon after by RacingThePlanet: Nepal 2011, before completing five races as a competitor: RacingThePlanet: Jordan 2012, Iceland 2013, Sri Lanka 2016, the Gobi March (China) 2017, and RacingThePlanet: New Zealand 2019.

He later transitioned to working on the Course Team at the Sahara Race (Namibia) 2016, Namib Race (Namibia) 2018, the Special Edition of RacingThePlanet (Georgia) 2022, the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2023, and most recently the Namib Race (Namibia) 2026. The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2026 will mark John’s twelfth RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon and his eighth time volunteering—mostly on the Course Team. This year, he will finally fulfill a lifelong dream by joining the Course Team in Antarctica.

John describes himself as someone who never turns down a challenge, a trait clearly reflected in his racing, volunteering, and professional background.

Simon DAMODARAN

United Kingdom, Resident in Hong Kong

Simon is a long-term Hong Kong resident who has worked for RacingThePlanet since 2012 and is joining his fourth race at The Last Desert 2026.

THE LAST DESERT (ANTARCTICA) ANTARCTICA'S ONLY MULTI-STAGE FOOTRACE

ANTARCTICA ULTRAMARATHON

ULTRALITE (ANTARCTICA)

DAYS TO GO

RACE INFO

RACE INFO

Mary GADAMS

Event Director

Hernan GARCIA

Course Director

Patrick BURNS, M.D.

Medical Doctor

Ali LIDDLE

Expedition Leader

Bev BRAMMER

Andrea ANDREWS

Operations Manager

Jo SCOTT

Thiago DIZ

Photographer

Andre GEMMER

Videographer

Rob JAMES

Event Manager, Antarctica Ultramarathon

Janka DOLEZAL

Cynthia THOMAS

Educator

Federico GRUNEWALD

Sailor

John WILLIAMSON

Entrepreneur

Simon DAMODARAN

Mary GADAMS

Event Director

Hernan GARCIA

Course Director

Patrick BURNS, M.D.

Medical Doctor

Ali LIDDLE

Expedition Leader

Bev BRAMMER

Andrea ANDREWS

Operations Manager

Jo SCOTT

Thiago DIZ

Photographer

Andre GEMMER

Videographer

Rob JAMES

Event Manager, Antarctica Ultramarathon

4 Deserts Club

Janka DOLEZAL

Cynthia THOMAS

Educator

Federico GRUNEWALD

Sailor

John WILLIAMSON

Entrepreneur

Simon DAMODARAN

THE LAST DESERT (ANTARCTICA)
ANTARCTICA'S ONLY MULTI-STAGE FOOTRACE