Arctic run a cool triumph

Stepping out of his comfort zone has become second nature to Broome man Adrian Dodson-Shaw, who fought temperatures as low as -60C to finish the North Pole Marathon earlier this month.

The plucky Kimberley runner became the first indigenous Australian to take on the gruelling endurance event in only his second marathon.

Dodson-Shaw was selected as part of the Indigenous Marathon Project last year and completed the New York Marathon last November.

Not content to rest on his laurels, the Broome runner battled extreme conditions for more than eight hours, having never seen snow before.

Dodson-Shaw spent four days in Norway's Longyearbyen, the most northerly town in the world, before flying to the North Pole to take on the daunting challenge.

Undertaking 12 laps of a 3.5km course, the Broome runner was one of only 33 people to complete the event.

Given the heat of the Kimberley that he is used to, Dodson-Shaw admitted being dropped into extreme cold was a shock to the system.

"You can't prepare for the North Pole in Broome due to the weather, obviously," he said.

"It's extremely cold.

"It was -30C when the race started and dropped to almost -60C with windchill. To be out there for over eight hours, you just have to find a way."

After landing at the North Pole, the Broome runner had only two hours before the race started.

"I was out there for a whole working day, basically - you lose all comprehension of time," he said.

"In the second half of the race I got into a rhythm and started feeling good after 30km. I passed about four people in the last lap and the last lap was my fastest.

"It goes to show that you have a lot more in your tank than you think you do."

After completing the race, Dodson-Shaw and the other runners took a 20-minute helicopter ride to the 90 degree axis - the point literally on top of the world.

The Broome athlete said he hoped to inspire people with his actions, especially indigenous youngsters closer to home.

"We need community heroes," he said.

"I got inspired by one of my best mates that did the New York marathon.

"Since then, I haven't looked back.

"All these opportunities came because I put my best foot forward.

"If I can do it, anyone can, if they are willing to give it a go."

He said he was looking forward to "relaxing after the hype" but has another adventure in his sights - a marathon on a volcano in Chile.

"I know my body now - if you can do the North Pole marathon, you can conquer the world," he said.

"I just feel like I can achieve anything now.

"One of the organisers offered me free entry to the volcano marathon.

"I might take him up on the offer."