In this screengrab taken from a video, athletes take part in a Siberian marathon at very low temperatures in Oymyakon, Yakutia, Russia, on Jan 12, 2024. (PHOTO / REUTERS)

OYMYAKON, Russia - A group of hardy Russians took part on Friday in one of the world's most extreme running contests - a marathon held at -52 degrees Celsius.

Runners underwent medical checks before the start of the event in Oymyakon, a settlement in Siberia, and were provided with broth, hot tea and snacks at refreshment points along the route.

Wrapped up from head to foot against the cold, a total of 38 people competed in the marathon and half-marathon events, according to local media.

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In this file photo dated Jan 22, 2022, runners take part in the International World's coldest marathon at minus 53 degrees near Oymyakon, the republic of Sakha, also known as Yakutia, Russian Far East. (PHOTO / AP)

Alisa Matveeva, who ran the half-marathon, said the experience was "very scary" as the lowest temperature she had previously trained in was -20C in Moscow.

"It was hard to run for the first 10 km. Then it was easier, because you already understand how to breathe, you remember that you need to remove the ice from your eyes, because your eyes get covered with it," she told reporters.

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"I'm really glad that I wore a thermal mask and heated insoles, it really just saved me."