The Trailhead What Running 150 Miles Across Iceland Taught Pavel Cenkl About the Planet
Mar 3, 2026
Pavel Cenkl, a climate writer, ultrarunner, and academic leader who founded Climate Run, recounts running 150 miles across Iceland and long routes in the Arctic. He talks about witnessing disappearing glaciers, the vulnerability and clarity of solo midnight-sun runs, a cathartic “goose scream” moment, and why resilience and relational engagement matter more than simple fixes.
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Running Across Iceland Where A Glacier Disappeared
- Pavel ran 150 miles across Iceland over three days and witnessed a glacier melt away next to a shield volcano called Ok, showing climate impacts firsthand.
- He used the visceral sight of a declassified glacier to connect audiences to abstract climate science in talks and writing.
Vulnerability In Ultras Opens Ecological Awareness
- Ultra vulnerability blurs the boundary between self and landscape, creating openings for deeper ecological understanding.
- Pavel experienced this during long Arctic runs when exhaustion made him utterly dependent on the environment.
Embodied Stories Make Distant Climate Tangible
- Talking about climate through embodied stories and photos can translate distant Arctic changes for audiences unfamiliar with the science.
- Pavel used imagery and personal runs to help Ohio high school students relate to resilience and place-based action.
