World Marathon Challenge

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.

Route

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.

Summary Facts about the World Marathon Challenge

• The World Marathon Challenge is the only event that offers the opportunity to run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days.
• The first marathon will occur within the Antarctic Circle on mainland Antarctica and the final marathon will take place in Miami, North America.
• The global route is Novo (Antarctica), Cape Town (Africa), Perth (Australia), Dubai (Asia), Madrid (Europe), Fortaleza (South America) and Miami (North America).
• Successful participants will be recognised by the 7 Continents Marathon Club, which provides the definitive list of marathoners on all 7 continents.
• Successful participants will also be recognised by the Intercontinental Marathon Club, which provides the definitive list of marathoners on all 7 continents within 7 days. 
• There is a competition element within the trip - the fastest combined marathon times for male and female categories will be declared the outright winners.
• Participants will run 295 km (183 miles) over the seven-day period, spend 45 hours in the air.
• The Book of Alternative Records recognises the event for world record purposes, including fastest average marathon times for 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days and shortest duration to run 7 marathons on 7 continents.
• The Book of Alternative Records will recognise the event for world record purposes, including fastest combined marathon times for 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days.
• The Guinness Bood of Records also acknowledges the event for record setting purposes. 

Current World Records for Marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Days

• Shortest Average Time (Men) - Michael Wardian (USA)  2:45:57
• Shortest Average Time (Women) - Kristina Schou Madsen (DEN)  3:25:57
• Shortest Duration (Men) - Richard Donovan (IRE)  4 days 22 hours 3 minutes
• FasShortest est Duration (Women) - Becca Pizzi (USA)  6 days 7 hours 58 minutes

Other achievements

• First Blind Athlete - Sinead Kane (2017 World Marathon Challenge)
• Oldest Man  - Dan Little (USA), 76 years
• Oldest Woman - Gloria Lau (SIN), 67 years
• Fastest Married Couple - Catherine Sun and Eric Xin (2017 World Marathon Challenge)

2024 Details to be Updated

2023 World Marathon Challenge Schedule 

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.

2024 WMC details to be Updated.

2023 World Marathon Challenge Entry Details

The 2023 entry fee is EUR €39,900 if paying in full on registration. An instalment option is available, which can be paid with three payments of €14,000 (total €42,000). 

INCLUDED

• Flight by specialist jet from Cape Town to Novo, Antarctica - the location of the first marathon.
• Professionally organised marathon events at Novo, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Santiago and Miami. 
• International Business Class charter flights to each of the marathon locations.
• Contingency plans and arrangements to cater for weather delays in Antarctica and guarantee availability on flights to meet a 7-day schedule.
• Accommodation in Dubai or Madris, if feasible, during the trip.
• Meals provided on charter flights.
• Aid/Food/Drinks stations at each event as per any stadard marathon.
• Medical support throughout the trip.
• Shower facilities at each location.
• Carbo offset for all flights.
• Professional video footage / photos of the World Marathon Challenge.
• Medals, t-shirts, souvenirs and merchandise related to the World Marathon Challenge.

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.