The World Marathon Challenge (WCM) is an event that requires participants to complete seven marathons (42.195 km) on seven continents within seven days.
Overcoming jetlag when having to fly continuously in different weather conditions, Susannah Gill, last week, completed the challenge with a total time of 24 hours, 19 minutes and 9 seconds, over three hours faster than the old world record.
Gill completed the seventh marathon on the night of February 6 in Miami, Florida, USA.
Female athlete completes World Marathon Challenge fastest
`Right now, I just feel happy and satisfied,` Gill shared with Runner’s World.
After paying a fee of approximately $42,500Â (37,500 euros) per person, the 40 WMC athletes were taken to locations on seven continents to begin the challenge.
The first runner-up that day was Kristina Schou Madsen, a Danish female athlete, with a time of 3 hours 47 minutes 24.6 seconds.
Gill finished second in the first leg of the challenge – which took place in the North Pole.
Gill ran fastest in the fifth stage of the seven-stage challenge, in Madrid, Spain.
`It’s epic. That definitely doesn’t happen in the programs I’ve practiced in,` Gill shared.
A few days after her victory, Gill believed that the competition between the athletes participating in WMC was the driving force that helped her break the world record.
While participating in WMC, Gill also raised funds for SportsAid, a non-profit organization that supports young and enthusiastic athletes in the UK.
Gill and the winner of a similar challenge for men – Mike Wardian – celebrated their victory on the beach in Miami, Florida.
Gill started running 10 years ago and has completed more than 40 marathons.
Gill himself also found it funny and couldn’t help but laugh when talking about his early running days.
Five months before WMC, Gill began training with coach Mike Antoniades, an expert in designing difficult sprints and long runs for the marathon distance.
Susannah Gill took the opportunity to sleep on the flight to the 2019 World Marathon Challenge
Gill took a nap on the flight from Madrid to Santiago, Chile to run the sixth marathon in the challenge.
Gill’s schedule includes a three-hour run on Saturday, a four-hour run on Sunday, and a sprint on Wednesday.
Before Christmas, coach Antoniades prepared a simulation challenge for Gill –Â running six marathons in nine days.
`I knew I was determined, but I couldn’t know until I challenged myself,` Gill said.
Gill and the athletes had to travel across seven continents to conquer WMC.
Gill is still looking for her next big challenge.
`That’s the best thing about running. I just knew something was coming, because that’s what running is, right? It can take you anywhere.`
VnExpress International Marathon – Quy Nhon 2019
VnExpress Marathon (VM) is an annual running race.
Besides sports activities, exploring the running track and lucky lottery drawing, VM 2019 is an opportunity for runners to participate in charity work.
VM 2019Â opens registration from January 15, 2019, at https://vm.vnexpress.net/dang-ky-chay.