Seven Marathons on Seven Continents

I’d like you to meet my pal, Bruce. He’s in his mid-sixties, an adventurer bar none, and a determined runner after my own heart. Recently he completed his seventh continental marathon, and I asked if I could interview him about his experience. Check it out! And scroll below for a smattering of Bruce’s photos (in no particular order). Thanks Bruce!

Bruce and Gerry in Australia

What made you want to run a marathon on every continent?

My quest for the 7 started in of all places Havana, Cuba after the Habana Marathon, which was the only marathon I started and failed to complete (five hour time limit, and after doing the first half in 2:30–it was hot, humid, and I was apparently not in as good of shape as I needed to be–I chose to stop at the half and call it an experience). After the race, I was having dinner with Lee, a friend I met on the run. We had good wine, wonderful Cuban cigars and a view of La Catedral de La Habana Church and Plaza with Havana Harbor as a background.  Lee told me I should consider the Antarctica marathon.  He sent me a DVD of his trip he had made the year before, and after watching it, I signed  up for Antarctica with Marathon Tours, making the trip in March 2009.  I had completed several Marathons in the USA and had finished Prague, CK in 2005, so after completing Antarctica I had three continents completed, including the hardest to get to: Antarctica.  I was still doing these trips as adventures and really hadn’t heard of the 7 continents club  \until Antarctica, where people were doing running to complete their seventh continent.  Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia were left for me, one per year and I could be done before I turned 65 years old. I finished my 7^th at the Outback Marathon, Ayres Rock Australia on July 28^th, 2012 my 65^th birthday exactly!!

What were the 7 marathons you chose and which countries were they in?

I had run several in North America: Tuscon AZ, Reggae Jamaica, Brookings, SD, Phoenix AZ, but I chose Portland, OR to use as the official one since it was documented well.

So here they are:

2002 – Portland OR  5:09

2005 – Prague CK   5:43

2009 – Antarctica   6:29

2010 – Kenya, Africa  6:17

2011 – Tateyama, Japan 5:47

2011 – Buenos Aires, Argentina  6:08

2012 – Ayres Rock, Australia 6:04

Which continental race was your favorite and why?

Each one has a special meaning and experience, but the Tateyama Waskahio Marathon in Japan was our (mine and my companion, Gerry’s) favorite.   The race was relatively level, cool temps, with wonderful views along the bay and lots of people enjoying the runners. It was my favorite.  Thanks to you (Cami) the experience of being in a small race with friends of yours and now ours was something Gerry and I will remember for a lifetime.  As you indicated we got “the full treatment.”  And it was wonderful!!

In Japan with the Kawasakis

What was your favorite place you visited during your quest?

I enjoyed Havana very much.  I went there alone, and was concerned about that but upon arrival found the people extremely friendly, and the city architecturally amazing, with no western influence–and unspoiled beaches.  The people have very little to spare but would share what they had with you. Conversations were wonderful, be it about politics or whatever. And they loved to discuss political views with those of us from the States.

What was your most disastrous travel story?

Really we have not had any major problems.  We had our luggage stolen in Costa Rica from our little cabana on the beach.  Had nothing to wear but the clothes we had on!  Gerry lost her purse and billfold, but I had mine, so back in San Jose we bought enough items to return home.

In Brussels, we arrived by train about midnight with no hotel room reserved. Our taxi driver drove all over the city central trying to find us a room and only one could be found for like $400 per night. Finally we agreed to that one, blowing our budget in one night.  Gerry gets tired of me saying this, but I always say: “If you have enough money to buy your way out of a problem, you don’t have a problem.”

Then in Buenos Aries we got 500 pesos from a bank ATM machine and no one would accept the money.  We couldn’t figure out why they would take Gerry’s money and not mine.  Finally someone explained that the money I got was all counterfeit.  That was on a Saturday, and Monday was a holiday. Our flight left that same evening so we still have the bills as souvenirs.

What advice would you give others who are trying to do 7 on 7?

What was that old Nike commercial? “Just do it!”  I do think that anyone should try and get Antarctica off the list ASAP.  It is so environmentally fragile that anything that would happen to harm it in any way could cause these recreational trips to be curtailed in the future.  That is only my point of view, but I can see it happening.

Anywhere you travel, if you are a walker, jogger, runner, get up early some morning, put on your running shorts, lace up those shoes, head out the door, and no matter where you are in the world, you won’t go far before you meet someone on the streets running. You may not speak the language but you will receive a smile and a wave.

Don’t be afraid to travel out of the States, Homeland Security is the worst thing you will probably have to face.

Whats next on your bucket list?

The Des Moines Register Newspaper sponsors a bike ride across Iowa the last week in July called RAGBRAI.  Which stands for Registers Annul Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.  It is a big event, (10,000 plus riders) and takes five days. Riders stay in small towns each night and ride 40 to 100 miles per day, starting with your back wheel in the Missouri River on our western side, finishing with your front wheel in the Mississippi River on the east.  I want to attempt it this coming summer.

I also really want to go to Iran. Everyone I have spoken with (outside of the US) says it is a wonderful county to visit.  The people are friendly, well educated, and really like Americans, contrary to what our State Department says. Guess I just want to go see for myself.

Running on Snow

Antarctica!

Ice berg

Africa!

With an Australian Joey

Buenos Aires 2011

Meet Jessica, who has been one of my virtual training partners this year. Jessica completed her first marathon in June. Below are her reflections. Join me in congratulating her for pushing past some tough moments in the race. Great job, Jessica!! And good luck in Portland in the fall.

As you know, I fell out of my training circuit for a bit while dealing with….life. Go figure. So given that 15.8 miles was the furthest I had run before my marathon, I knew I had my work cut out for me on race day at the Seattle Rock N Roll event.

I think my official finishing time was 6:02. Clearly not the sub 5 hour goal I was aiming for… but… I finished. I’m still trying to embrace that, even though I feel like my disappointment is really preventing me from relishing in the fact that I am, indeed, a marathoner.

I hydrated the week prior, introduced sodium back into my life and stretched and then stretched some more. I only drank when thirsty on the course, consumed 7 packets of GU total (my favorite is the Mango flavored Roctane!!) and mentally felt AWESOME!

My first 13 miles went great. My split was 2:25 so I was on track to hit my 5 hr goal. And then mile 17 hit, and I started to get a nag of a pain on the outside of my knee. I toughed through it, because in my mind I felt our bodies aren’t made for running such long distances and eventually mine would complain but I could finish…. I knew I could complete my first marathon!

I think the cause that I run for helps carry me a lot through my tough times. I always say to myself, “Well, it isn’t 100+F outside surrounded by sand, gunfire and hostility… and I’m alive. If those soldiers can carry on then so can I.”

I’m sure you have seen my posts on FB about it, but “wear blue: run to remember” is very dear to my heart, and every time I would pass another runner (to or fro) wearing blue, we would yell out “go blue” to each other, and I would feel myself fill with pride and get a little extra bounce in my step. It’s an amazing group. Everyone should look them up.

But then, mile 20 hit and my knee completely gave out on me. It felt like someone stabbed me in my knee. So I slowed down to a fast walk and the pain went away–only to return any time I would muster up my energy to jog/shuffle/whatever it may be called. So, with tears in my eyes, I finished the last 6.2 miles by walking. In the rain. And the wind. On the elevated part of hwy 99 for all to see. Sigh. I think between miles 23-26 I had a breakdown. How could I go so far to only be struck down the last 1/5 of the race?

After a few weeks of rest and light running, I went and saw my doctor and was told I have a small tear of my meniscus. The good news is, with rest, ice, and a supportive knee brace, I have been cleared to begin running again as my body permits (and have been urged to keep cross training and making sure not only my quads and hammys are balanced, but my adductors and abductors as well).

Now, a few weeks later my knee is feeling pretty good. I have only done a few small runs lately and plan to run/walk a half marathon on Sunday (See Jane Run). I have just under 90 days until Portland and have no doubt in my mind that I will beat my 6:02 Seattle time.

I feel like I will be able to focus more on training this time around barring no life catastrophes (knock on wood).

So, what’s a girl to do but accept what is IS? At least I have a bar set to beat when I run the Portland Marathon on Oct 7th. Yup, marathon #2 is on the calendar.