Run A Marathon On Every Continent
2 of 7 continents done
Seven continents, seven finish lines, from the ice of Antarctica to the hills of Africa and the streets of Tokyo.
The adventure
Running a marathon on every continent turns a hobby into a reason to see the world. Each race becomes a trip in its own right, and the list of possible courses is extraordinary: city majors such as Tokyo and Sydney, Comrades in South Africa, races in the Andes or along the Great Wall of China, and the cold, remote challenge of Antarctica.
What makes it special is the variety. One year you are running through the streets of Buenos Aires or Rio, the next you are on gravel tracks between research stations with penguins watching. Every medal comes with a different memory of the place, the people and the weather. The final continent, whichever it turns out to be, is a huge moment, and it earns you a place in the Seven Continents Club alongside a small group of runners around the world.
Why it’s epic
- Antarctica is the hardest to book, with small fields that often sell out years in advance.
- Asia and Oceania can be ticked off with the Tokyo and Sydney majors.
- Africa offers everything from Comrades and the Cape Town Marathon to the Kilimanjaro Marathon in Tanzania.
- The Great Wall Marathon in China includes thousands of steps on the wall itself.
What it is
Running a full marathon on all seven continents, Antarctica included. Runners who manage it can join the Seven Continents Club.
How to do it
Europe and North America are the easy ones. Book Antarctica early because places are scarce, then pick races for Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania.
Top tip
The World Marathon Majors help here: Tokyo covers Asia and Sydney covers Oceania.
Need to know
- Book Antarctica first and plan the other continents around it.
- Make sure each race is a full 42.2 km on a measured course, as only full marathons count.
- Good travel insurance matters, especially for remote races in Antarctica, Africa and South America.
Why it’s on my list
Two continents down, five to go.
- Europe, done: Marathon du Médoc, France, September 2016. Since then also the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromsø (2018), Amsterdam (2022), Rome (2026) and Berlin (2026).
- North America, done: Little Rock Marathon, USA, March 2017. Since then also the Greenland Marathon in Ilulissat (2022) and Chicago (2026).
- South America: still to do.
- Africa: still to do. Comrades would count.
- Asia: still to do. Tokyo would count.
- Oceania: still to do. Sydney would count.
- Antarctica: still to do. See Run a marathon in Antarctica.
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