The World’s Highest Marathon
Sound Design and Mix by JETSONIX
The Project
Set in Chile’s Atacama Desert, The World’s Highest Marathon follows an extraordinary expedition attempting to complete a marathon from extreme altitude.
The challenge extends far beyond the run itself. The team must navigate hostile terrain, thin air, freezing temperatures, relentless wind and rapidly changing conditions, while supporting a record attempt that pushes both people and vehicles to their limits.
Of the 16 adventurers who began the challenge, only five ultimately completed it.
The result is a character-led documentary about ambition, doubt, teamwork and the physical cost of attempting something that has never been done before.
The Sound Challenge
The environment needed to feel like an active force in the story.
The wind, altitude and terrain could not simply sit in the background. They needed to create pressure, while the sound of the runners’ breathing, footsteps, clothing, radio communications and voices kept the audience close to the human experience.
At the same time, the mix had to preserve the authenticity of the expedition. The sound design needed to feel physical and cinematic without becoming detached from what was actually captured on location.
The Approach
Using authentic recordings from the expedition, we built a sound world around:
Wind as a constant and increasingly hostile presence
The physical detail of rock, boots, clothing and movement
The Ford vehicles working through difficult terrain
Radio communications and expedition logistics
Breathing and vocal strain during the ascent and marathon
Mountain and environmental textures that build tension
Clear, emotionally present dialogue beneath music and effects
The sound design grows with the story. As the team climbs and conditions deteriorate, the environment becomes more intense and claustrophobic. During the marathon, the mix opens up to give the runners’ emotional journey and the music room to carry the payoff.
The aim was not to make the film sound artificial. It was to make the real experience feel more immediate.
The Result
A cinematic documentary mix designed to carry the scale of the landscape while keeping the runners and their emotional journeys at the centre.
The final film was reviewed in a professional master suite, where the team described it as “SO epic” and praised the way the mix elevated the documentary.
“The work you’ve done has really helped elevate it into something we’re incredibly proud of.”