ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION: The Story of the Beginning
Chapter 1: THE STARTING LINE
Chapter 2: MARATHON 1: ANTARCTICA: Union Glacier: A Trial byFire in
the Coldest Place on Earth
Chapter 3: MARATHON 2: SOUTH AMERICA: Punta Arenas, Chile: The
Shakedown
Chapter 4: MARATHON 3: NORTH AMERICA: Miami, United States of
America: The Forging of the Alliance
Chapter 5: MARATHON 4: EUROPE: Madrid, Spain: The Painful Test
Chapter 6: MARATHON 5: AFRICA: Marrakech, Morocco: The
Unraveling
Chapter 7: MARATHON 6: ASIA: Dubai, United Arab Emirates: When to
Win Alone Would Have Been a Loss
Chapter 8: MARATHON 7: OCEANIA: Sydney, Australia: The Final
Showdown
EPILOGUE
APPENDIX: The Final Standings
INDEX
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Gething won the World Marathon Challenge in January 2015, running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, and setting two new world records in the process. Specializing in long-distance events, he has competed in numerous marathons, including the famed Boston Marathon, Ironman triathlons, Ultraman Florida, Norseman and Celtman Extreme Triathlons, and multi-day European bicycle stage-races. He is a regular contributor to local magazines and publications, including the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s leading English-language newspaper. When not training and racing, Dr. Gething is a veterinarian in Hong Kong.
In 2007, the author’s pregnant wife pointed out that he was getting
a little soft: too much bad food, not enough exercise, perhaps not
quite the right role model for their soon-to-be-born child. Gething
took her observation to heart and vowed to get into shape. He
started running, eventually graduating to marathons, and, in 2015,
he entered and won the very first World Marathon Challenge, which
is just as hard as it sounds: seven full marathons in the space of
a week in Antarctica, South America, North America, Europe, Africa,
Asia, and Australia. It sounds like an incredible ordeal, the kind
of thing you wonder why anyone would subject himself to, and indeed
that’s a big part of this memoir: the author explaining how and why
he went, in the space of less than a decade, from an ordinary,
out-of-shape guy to a world-class marathon runner. Full of
interesting and surprising stories—it really was quite a journey,
and it’s populated by an engaging cast of real-life characters—the
book should appeal to runners of all kinds, from newbies to
veterans.
*Booklist*
This is the autobiographical story of a man who transforms himself
from a ‘middle-aged couch potato’ into an athlete who attempts to
complete ‘seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.’ The
book is organized into separate chapters for each marathon. . . .It
is difficult to imagine undertaking such a grueling challenge, but
the author's recollection of details and his thoughts throughout
the seven events provide readers with an insight into the
experience. There is no bravado one might expect from a recounting
of an adventure of this scale. Instead, readers are provided with a
narrative that is self-deprecating and honest. The author writes of
when his wife confronts him about his drinking, smoking, and weight
issues, which propel him to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Eventually
this leads to his competing in increasingly grueling races that
culminate in the events detailed in this book. Though it obviously
recounts the story of the marathons, it is also an interesting
story of how a man transformed himself from a sedentary and
unhealthy person into a world-class marathoner.
Summing Up: Recommended. All readers.
*CHOICE*
The ambition and dedication that David Gething demonstrates in his
remarkable achievement shows that he has the true spirit of an
IRONMAN: Anything is Possible with the right amount of dedication
and commitment.
*Andrew Messick, CEO of Ironman*
A wonderfully told adventure about pushing your limits—for runners
and non-runners alike. I couldn't put it down.
*John Ellis, Ultra Runner*
David Gething has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of
the event—the characters, courses, logistics, the internal
dialogues and doubts, the issues and ethics and, in the end, the
sheer magnitude of it all. Yet, like Ultraman, despite its length
and relatively small number of competitors, Gething draws the
reader into the art and heart of what it means to be a champion.
Gething translates the nuances of such a multi-day challenge into
an exciting finale both on and off the pages of the book. I was
totally impressed and engrossed. An excellent read—I would totally
recommend the book.
*Steve King, Ironman, Ultraman, and Ultramarathon legend*
When David first approached me about racing the 7 marathons in 7
days on 7 continents challenge, I first wondered how it was even
possible. But then I also realized that David is one of those
special athletes with the physical strength to handle the
punishment that would need to be endured—and even more importantly,
the mental strength to stay focused and keep pushing right to the
end no matter how much suffering he would have to endure.
*Nigel Gray, elite professional triathlete and coach, NRG
Performance Training*
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