The World Marathon Challenge is a logistical and physical challenge to run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days. Competitors must run the standard 42.195 km marathon distance in Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America and North America within 168 hours, or 7 days. There is also an option to run a half marathon distance. The clock starts when the first marathon in Antarctica begins.
The World Marathon Challenge is the only annual event that offers the opportunity to run 7 Marathons on 7 Continents on 7 Days.
The first marathon takes place within the Antarctic Circle on mainland Antarctica with participants flying to Novo Base. After the first marathon commences on the 'Frozen Continent', there will be a mere 168 hours left to complete the World Marathon Challenge.
During this seven-day time period, competitors will fly by charter plane and will run standard 42.2km (26.2 miles) marathon distances at Novolazarevskaya aka Novo (Antarctica), Cape Town (South Africa), Perth (Australia), Dubai (Asia), Madrid (Europe), Fortaleza (South America) and Miami (North America). At each location, local running experts will ensure the marathons are the correct distance on custom courses.
There is a competition in the World Marathon Challenge and the runners with the fastest combined time, for both men and women, are declared the outright winners.
Competitors will undoubtedly suffer from marathon fatigue, jet lag and sleep deprivation as the event progresses. The impact of wide temperature fluctuations will also be a factor in success or failure, with a possible variation of 50 Degrees Celsius. However, the competitors will be in good hands as the logistics of the World Marathon Challenge are organised by Global Running Adventures/Polar Running Adventures, the organisers of the North Pole Marathon, Antarctic Ice Marathon and Volcano Marathon.
Although running 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days will be the ultimate success, there is also a competition element within the World Marathon Challenge. The fastest combined marathon times for male and female runners will also be recognised for world record purposes.
Join Event Director, Richard Donovan, on this amazing challenge. Places are limited for the World Marathon Challenge. Successful participants are recognised by the exclusive Intercontinental Marathon Club, which procvides the definitive list of people who have run 7 Marathons on 7 Continents within 7 Days.
The World Marathon Challenge will start at Novo (Antarctica) and proceed to Cape Town (Africa), Perth (Australia), Dubai (Asia), Madrid (Europe), Fortaleza (South America) and Miami (North America). Runners will spend about 52.5 hours in the air from the start point in Antarctica to the finish line in Miami.
2022 World Marathon Challenge Route from Global Running Adventures on Vimeo.
Jan 28 Latest arrival at Cape Town, South Africa
Jan 29 Race Director briefing
Jan 30 Pre-Departure Briefings for Antarctica
Jan 31 Marathon in Antarctica
Feb 1 Marathon in Cape Town
Feb 2 Marathon in Perth
Feb 3 Marathon in Dubai
Feb 4 Marathon in Madrid
Feb 5 Marathon in Fortaleza
Feb 6 Marathon in Miami
*Every effort will be made to keep to the scheduled departure and return date, but all flights are subject to weather, aircraft serviceability and local conditions.
INCLUDED
The entry fee does NOT include flights from your homeland to Cape Town to begin the trip or your return flight home from Miami at the end of the Challenge.
You should make sure to book accommodation in the recommended hotel in Cape Town until 8 February. Participants are responsible for their own food, outside of charter flights.
All participants should be in excellent health and capable of completing the World Marathon Challenge. Please consult with your doctor before entering the World Marathon Challenge.