So here I am on my way to Tasmania to run a marathon on my 7^th Continent. This will complete another one of my BHAG’s (Big Hairy Audacious Goals)…to run a Marathon on every continent.

Flying to Sydney Australia from Boston gave me plenty of time to think about what a “long strange trip” it really has been. Forgetting about the BHAG’s completing an Ironman Triathlon in 1997, of running a marathon in all 50 States that was completed in 2014, and running an 100 mile Ultramarathon completed in 2019.

This BHAG was a challenge that was given to me as a Christmas present when Erika gave me the book “Running a Marathon in the coldest place on Earth” that book included all of the information on the Seven Continents Club and how other people had joined this club to run a marathon on every continent.

Erika is also responsible for my most recent BHAG into Ultramarathons. Not only has she never refused to be my “support crew” on these ultra’s…she encourages me to do more and go farther and faster the last time. Always reminding me of PR’s and or how close or how much I have to do in order to best my PR.

By the way for the record…Beth was responsible for the 50 States Marathon BHAG because it was at the packet pickup for the Philadelphia Marathon that I met the first 50 State Marathon Club member. Beth was living in Philadelphia at the time and had challenged me to run that marathon.

I blame Art S. for the Ironman BHAG…he was the one that got me biking and running and him and I did many duathlons together before he ran in the other direction when I saw a sign-up form for a triathlon.   He did, however, go and witness a near drowning at my first sprint triathlon.

So, on this what seemed like two-day flight from Boston to Sydney I got to reflect on my other continents. All of them are on the blog at some point and can be read in more detail.

The first one after North America was Antarctica. I know most people would never go there, let alone go to run a marathon. I got to cross the most dangerous sea – the Drakes Passage – and kayak with seals, whales, and penguins that were more curious about me than me about them. The icebergs and the terrain are things that I know I will never see again. The really strange thing was 10 days with no contact with the outside world. New York could have slide into the ocean and I would have never known.

Europe followed next. Running the Davos, Switzerland Marathon on my birthday in July and crossing snow fields on trails so narrow I thought it more appropriate for a mule train not a marathon. I still love looking at those pictures, they look like they are “photoshopped”. The sky is so blue, the snow so white, the plants so green, and the rocks so grey. That was the first real “trail” marathon I ever ran and the 2 miles of vertical were added to my Garmin watch’s total distance for the marathon.

Next was “Blame it on Rio”. Spending time in Brazil right after the Olympics was another highlight of the “Long Strange Trip”. Learning how the media had destroyed the economy for the average Brazilian and how the tourists stayed away from the games because of all the bad publicity and how their taxes were going to have to pay for all the construction that may never be used again or at best will be underused. The beaches and history of the area is wonderful and anyone wanting a get away should go and see it all. Remember, you can” Blame it on Rio.’

Then before we knew it we were off to South Africa. Capetown, to be exact, and what an education we got on Nelson Mandela and apartheid. I was so naive to the fact that the country had only obtained it’s independence less than 30 years ago and was impressed at all the progress it had made in such a short time, even with the corruption and all the other issues that it has faced.

Next, we were off to the Holy Land. When I found out that Jerusalem counted as Asia, I was all for it. I did not want to go all the way to Japan or China again and signed up for Jerusalem just because it was close. Then when I got to start looking at all the places there were to see in such a small area (Israel) and all of the history , not forgetting all the religion.   I got to run a marathon on the same streets that Jesus walked…that was a “long strange trip” as well.

Finally I will be finishing this BHAG with my 7^th continent in Tasmania, Australia…Hobart’s Cadbury Marathon on January 12^th. I was lucky enough to find a marathon in Australia in their summer and our winter in North America and a cruise ship that would allow me to get off the ship to run the Marathon (while the ship spends three days crossing from Tasmania to New Zealand). I will have to let you know how that goes in a later post.

So to sum up my “Long Strange Trip…”   I can’t help wonder how this strange trip would have been without such a perfect travel partner. Maria has helped with all of the logistics of getting to all of these places (most of which are not easy places to get to). Helped get all the visa’s approved. Packing and un-packing and all the time putting up with my “stinky shoes” and falling off toenails. As romantic as this all sounds…she has been a saint and I am a lucky guy to have such a wonderful travel partner and wife.