HERBERTSDALE NEWS -  From the quiet farmlands of Herbertsdale outside Mossel Bay to the frozen expanse of Antarctica, local Tania Jeken (36) has proven that adventure knows no bounds.

Jeken recently took part in the half-marathon of the Antarctica Marathon, in one of the most extreme and remote environments on earth. 

When her feet hit home ground, she told Mossel Bay Advertiser about her adventure. 

Jeken, who works in the expedition cruise industry as a first-aid responder and general naturalist guide, said nothing prepared her for the Antarctic challenge she embraced on a whim.

They set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, across the notorious Drake Passage in March. The Drake Passage is known for huge waves and powerful winds. 

"This time, however, we were lucky. The crossing was unusually calm, almost as if the ocean itself was giving us permission to pass." 

Jeken arrived with her fellow runners at the icy continent after meticulously following strict biosecurity protocols to protect its fragile ecosystem.

"Even my running shoes had to be spotless." 

She said race day, which was 19 March, brought freezing temperatures, gusting winds and shifting snow showers, but she stepped onto the start line in running gear, surrounded by the vast wilderness and curious penguins and fur seals. 

At the start of the race. 

The half-marathon course was a series of loops winding past research stations, "but the landscape made every step unforgettable". 

Balancing her knowledge as a first-aid responder with her ambition as a competitor, she pushed herself through the harsh conditions. 

Crossing the finish line, Jeken placed 10th overall and third among the women, an extraordinary feat for someone with no formal training. 

"This wasn't just a race, it was a reminder of how far you can go when you step outside your comfort zone, even if that step happens to be on the edge of the world." 

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