Evija Reine’s Journey: How She Set the Women’s Record at the Antarctic Ice Marathon

Gotta say, this interview is a firecracker. You can feel from these lines that Evija Reine is not just a marathon runner — she’s a relentless dreamer, a record-setter, and a woman who turned self-belief into action. From running her first marathon in Riga to conquering all seven continents and setting a women’s record at the Antarctic Ice Marathon, Evija’s story is one of grit, passion, and, most of all, unapologetic perseverance.

Now, she’s preparing for one of her most physically demanding challenges yet: the Everest Marathon, a high-altitude race that begins at Everest Base Camp on May 29, commemorating the first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Hillary and Tenzing on the same date in 1953. In this interview, she opens up about chasing impossible goals, the sacrifices behind them, and the strength it takes to keep going — even when the world tells you not to.

1. When did you run your first marathon, and how many have you completed since then?

In May 2009, I ran the Nordea Riga Marathon. I’ve since run on all seven continents and completed a total of 50 marathons. There are actually more, but not all of them count.

For example, I would love to count my marathon in Svalbard (Norway), because it was the closest to the North Pole. My friends organized that race for me—we started as two, but I finished alone.

I’ve also done close to 10 ultramarathons, which are on the list too.

2. After completing your Master’s in Sports Pedagogy in Latvia, you made the bold decision to leave everything behind and move to Norway to pursue your dream of running the Antarctic Ice Marathon. (Spoiler alert: you won—and set the women’s record in 2021!)

   Who or what inspired you to take that leap? And did it feel like you were making a major sacrifice at the time?

I didn’t move immediately after finishing my studies—I moved two years later. During those two years, I worked in the sports field and the beauty industry in Latvia. I just didn’t have enough courage to make the decision.

Actually, most people don’t know this, but after I finished my studies, I applied for the army. I got in with really good results, but a couple of days before I was supposed to start, I declined. That’s when I realized: if I didn’t act now, I might never achieve my dream of running in Antarctica. I just needed to make the decision and be brave enough to move.

I’d say it’s really hard to inspire or impress me—and the person who inspired me the most was myself. I knew I had to act, or the dream might slip away.

When I think about what I sacrificed for this dream, it was leaving my family and my country—that was the hardest part. I had a thousand little voices in my head saying, “What if it doesn’t work? What if you fail? What if you run out of time?”

Winning the race was just a bonus. For me, the greatest achievement was simply getting to Antarctica. That took 11 years.

3. Covid-19 almost derailed your dream of participating in the Antarctic Ice Marathon. The race was canceled in 2020—the year you were meant to make your debut. You returned to Latvia and enrolled in medical school, only to learn a few months later that the marathon would go ahead in 2021. You made the bold decision to leave your studies and pursue the dream.

   Looking back, what did winning the Antarctic Ice Marathon in 2021 mean to you? Did the experience live up to your expectations?

I will never forget that morning when I received the email saying the race was canceled due to Covid. I was on my way to swimming practice at the time. I ended up crying through the entire session.

One of the hardest things during that period was that everyone kept asking when I was going to Antarctica. I had to keep explaining that it was canceled, and at that point, no one knew if it would even happen the following year.

I found out about the cancellation in September. By December, I had decided to start studying for a biology exam. Since I had already planned to return to Latvia after the race, I didn’t have a plan for what to do there. Eventually, I decided to apply to medical university—but to get in, I needed to pass either a chemistry or biology exam. I realized I could study biology online, so I started in January and took the exam in May in Latvia. I scored well and secured a place at the university.

However, by then we still didn’t know if the Antarctica race would happen. When the trip was finally confirmed, I realized I couldn’t afford to miss three weeks of university. So I had to drop out. It was an easy decision. Antarctica had been a dream for many years. Maybe I’ll never have the chance to run there again—but I’ll always have the opportunity to return to university.

My biggest wish was simply to go to Antarctica and run. I didn’t aim to win; my main goal was TO PARTICIPATE. Still, I had trained hard for it—mostly on beaches and in sand, which is similar to snow. Winning the Antarctica Marathon was a pleasant bonus after all these years of fighting for that dream.

Honestly, I felt like I had already won the race the moment I landed in Antarctica. I didn’t even need to run—just being there was a victory in itself.

Pursuing my dream, despite everyone telling me it was crazy, insane, or stupid… it was my dream, not anyone else’s. And I don’t regret a single moment or any effort I put into achieving it. I don’t regret a single hour I spent on it.
That said, I wouldn’t want to save up for it in the same way again—that kind of effort can only be done once in a lifetime.

4. How long did it take you to prepare for and finally complete this challenge? And what’s something new you learned about yourself—or the world—through the process?

In total—11 years.
It’s not new, but I’ve learned there’s no one more stubborn than I am. I’d say this challenge has led to real personal growth. It taught me that everything is possible, even if it takes longer than expected. This experience reinforced what I already knew: great things don’t happen overnight. But something good always comes from perseverance. Even if you take three steps back—don’t quit. Because if you quit, you’ll never know how close you were.

In life, nobody cares about you or your story until you win. It’s a harsh truth—but an empowering one. Your journey, your struggles, your countless sleepless nights—they all seem invisible to the world until you make it.
So go out there and f***ing win. 

5. After achieving such a big dream, it’s natural to feel a sense of confusion—what comes next? So our question to you, Evija, is this: What do you do after making a lifelong dream come true?

What next? That’s a big question. And honestly, I ask myself that every single day: What’s next? What more can I do? How can I improve myself? What can I give to the society around me?

The great thing is that after winning the race, I discovered much more courage within myself. I realized that if I try and fail, it’s totally fine. I now have the confidence to try new things, because I’ve proven to myself that hard work always pays off.

Now, when I look back at that achievement, I see it as just one of the dreams I’ve made come true. It’s time for the next ones. Life doesn’t stop there.

6. You’ve been open about experiencing burnout. What are some of your favorite ways to take care of your mental well-being?

Sadly, we live in such a fake world. On social media, we usually show only the positive things and avoid sharing moments when we’re crying, sad, or just not okay. But these experiences are also part of life, and it’s okay to show our emotions as we feel them. We are allowed to be human beings.

I meet many people every day. I often notice those who wear “masks”—it’s not easy for them to take them off, and sometimes it can take a long time to truly see inside other people. So often, we try to hide our emotions when we’re sad, grieving, losing, or simply not feeling or looking our best.

We need to have our own cheerleader, and that cheerleader has to start with us. We need to be our own biggest fan. It’s easy to say, but I’ve been learning this over many years—and it’s ongoing work. In the past, I wouldn’t have been ready to publicly talk about mental burnout. But I’ve realized that it's extremely important to acknowledge that it’s okay to be in that stage too.

My favorite way to practice self-care is by booking free time for myself. However, it’s often challenging to truly relax during that time. Even when I’m not physically working, my mind races with a long list of things I should be doing—constantly checking my phone for reminders and deadlines. It’s a difficult cycle to break.

But I would say my absolute favorite form of self-care is going for a long run. It’s the best relief from all my problems, and it works perfectly for me. A long run is the greatest gift I can give myself. 

7. What’s one thing you’re focusing on right now? Are you open to sharing more about the business you’ve launched?

Last September, I founded a beauty company in Norway. Since then, I’ve been focused on stabilizing and growing the business. My ultimate goal is to build a successful and sustainable company that gives me the flexibility to travel more and pursue my passion for running.

I left my full-time job to gain more freedom—ironically, I now find myself working around the clock. But I knew that would be the case before I started this journey.

8. What’s your advice to people who have a dream that is WAY outside the beaten path? We believe that you can speak from experience! 

It won’t be easy—most of the time, it won’t. Few will believe in you. That’s why you need to burn with passion for your dream, all the way to your core. Only then can it truly succeed.

Many will doubt you. Some will laugh, thinking they know better. But then, there’s you. You must be your biggest fan. That’s the essence of it.

Success rarely comes on the first try. It may take many attempts, but persistence is everything. Never, ever give up—even if no one else believes in you.

9. You’ve completed dozens of marathons and are now launching your own business. What advice would you give to your younger self, 10 years ago?

Don’t settle for less.

Education is important.

If we’re fortunate, life doesn’t end at 20, 30, 40, or even 70. Never take a single day—or any person—for granted. Show gratitude to those around you and appreciate each day you’re given, because none of us knows when our last one will come.

I love the quote:
“Even if you go for it and it doesn’t work out, you still win. You had the guts to head into the unknown and try something that scared you. This type of bravery takes you places.”
I wish I had read this a long time ago.

10. What role has your support system (family, friends, mentors) played in your journey, and how important do you think it is for aspiring athletes to have a strong support network?

Support is everything. On my journey to Antarctica, my greatest support was Natalia—at first just a colleague, but later a dear friend. She believed in me wholeheartedly and never gave up on me. Her unwavering faith meant the world.

I know my family always believes in me, but we don’t always express our feelings—and I miss that sometimes. It’s something we need to work on, because even a simple sentence like “I believe in you” can mean everything. Supporting others also brings a deep sense of fulfillment in return.

Whether you’re an athlete, an entrepreneur, or in any other field, a support network is crucial.
Support is absolutely essential.