FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The World Marathon Challenge is a logistical and physical challenge to run 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Continuous Days, or 168 hours from the start of the first marathon to the finish of the final marathon. In 2022 there will be individual and team competitons within the Challenge.

The 7 Continents are Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America and North America. Please note there are only seven accepted continents in the world. Microcontinents and continental fragments exist, and there are continual claims of the discovery of lost or underwater continents, but none of these are accepted as principal continents e,g, Greater Adria, Madagascar, Zealandia, Mauritia, South Orkney.
The World Marathon Challenge is organised by Global Running Adventures / Polar Running Adventures, who have also organised extreme events such as the North Pole Marathon ®, Volcano Marathon ®, and Antarctic Ice Marathon & 100k ® for almost two decades. The Event Director is Richard Donovan. See the 'Organisers' section for more information.

There have been six editions of the race, each year from 2015 to 2020. In addition, the Event Director ran solo World Marathon Challenges in 2009 and 2012.

Yes, the World Marathon Challenge has a 100% success rate in enabling athletes to run 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Days, or 168 hours. It is the only event in the world that succeeds every year in making this happen.

Yes, the World Marathon Challenge is a member of the Association of Marathons & Distance Races (AIMS) and individual marathons are sanctioned by various national athletics federations including USATF.

Yes, the fastest average marathon times for the 7 marathons will be declared the outright winner in both male and female individual categories. There will also be a team competition in the 2023 World Marathon Challenge: The fastest combined marathon times of the top three team scorers, who finish all 7 marathons, will be declared the winners (a team can be composed of more than three people but must have both male and female runners among its scoring three).

You register on this website under the REGISTRATION section.

The first marathon is scheduled to occur on 31st January 2023. See 'SCHEDULE & COSTS' for more details.

The marathons are scheduled to take place at Novo (Antarctica), Cape Town (South Africa), Perth (Australia), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Madrid (Spain), Fortaleza (Brazil) and Miami (USA).

The entire trip, including the seven marathons on seven continents, international charter flights, and all related support is EUR 39,900 if paid in full upon registration. There is also an instalment payment option in which competitors make three payments of EUR 14,000. See 'SCHEDULE & COSTS' for more details.
Yes, places are limited to 50 for the 2023 World Marathon Challenge in accordance with aircraft capacity constraints. Some of these seats may be taken by media or non-running travelers. The advertised number of places available in the last four editions of the race have all sold out.
There is no set deadline for entering: places are strictly allotted on a first come first served basis until the race field is full. A deposit under the instalment payment option will secure your place.
Yes, all flight CO2 emissions are fully offset via the CarbonFund.org Foundation each year and related investments made in forestry conservation projects in Brazil. It should be noted that the event takes place only once per year: Although there are eight flights in one week, it is also only eight flights in one year. Furthermore, unlike major mass participation events, only a very small number travel to take part in the World Marathon Challenge and it is much more environmentally friendly in that regard.
Yes, despite the limited size of the race field, participants have raised millions of dollars for charity over the past few years. The unique nature of the event lends itself to being a great fundraising opportunity.
Yes, a non-runner, e.g. spouse or friend of an athlete, can purchase a seat on the trip.
No, the exact start date cannot be guaranteed. However, contingency plans are arranged to help ensure the seven-day schedule can be reached regardless of a delay in starting the Challenge.
Yes, the marathons are official marathons and recognised by third parties such as The Book of Alternative Records and Guinness World Records.

Successful participants will run 295 km or 183 miles in total. However, there is also a half-marathon option.

The time limit for each marathon is 8 hours, but can be changed at the discretion of the race director.

The temperatures will likely range from -10C to +30C.

Yes, significant media coverage can be expected.  The 2015-2020 World Marathon Challenges received extensive exposure on all the main international news channels, along with a globally broadcast documentary on the 2020 event. Furthermore, cameramen and photographers will follow the entire trip with the competitors.

The individual marathons are arranged by a combination of locally-based running experts, clubs and measurers.

Yes, there will be medical assistance / doctor available throughout the trip.

Competitors will fly on international charter flights during the 2023 World Marathon Challenge.

No, these Islands are not even located within the Antarctic Circle nor on Antarctica’s continental landmass, tectonic plate or geographic continental shelf. Confusion can arise as The Antarctic Treaty governs all areas south of 60 Degrees South latitude, but this includes the continent of Antarctica AND other areas such as ice shelves, seas and islands that are not part of the continent. See the 'LOCATIONS' section of this website for definitions and details of each continent.
Yes, the Antarctica race will take place at Novo, Antarctica, which is 6 hours flight directly south of Cape Town. Novo is located at 71 Degrees South, within the Antarctic Circle and on the Antarctica continental landmass. The marathon in Antarctica is called the Antarctica Intercontinental Marathon.
There is always a possiblity of weather delays when flying to or from Antarctica and it would be foolish to leave it as the final destination.

The 168-hour timing clock doesn't start until the first marathon commences! When it is certain that a flight can leave Antarctica, the first marathon will start and the countdown will begin. Nevertheless, the 2020 World Marathon Challenge elected to operate the Africa Intercontinental Marathon first when unique weather / logistics reasons dictated it best to fly in and out of Antarctica on the second day.

Competitors in the World Marathon Challenge will spend about 60 hours in the air from the start point in Antarctica to the finish in North America.

Successful participants will join the very exclusive Intercontinental Marathon Club ®,  reserved for those who have run 7 Marathons on 7 Continents within 7 Days. There is also recognition for running a half-marathon distance.

Participants will be advised on clothing for Antarctica. Suitable clothing for temperatures ranging from about +5 C to +30 C should be obtained for the other six continents.

World Marathon Challenge

The World Marathon Challenge ® is a logistical and physical challenge to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Competitors must run the standard 42.2 km marathon distance in Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America and North America within 168 hours, or 7 days. The clock starts when the first marathon begins in Antarctica.

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