Meet the Man Who Ran 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in Just 4 Days
May 04, 2020
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Have you ever ran 26.2 miles? Even if you haven’t, you probably know someone who has. It’s no secret that marathons are a ton of work. Most runners prepare months ahead of time for these races – and even then, some don’t make it to the finish line. But on February 13, Kyle Vogt did that and a whole lot more – he ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in just 4 days!
The Runner
First, here’s some background on the man in question. Vogt is a 34-year-old engineer and technology executive from Kansas City, Kansas. He left the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a junior to develop his first company. In 2011, he co-founded Twitch, a popular livestream platform.
Two years later, he sold Twitch to Amazon for just under $1 billion, after which he created Cruise Automation, which specializes in autonomous car software. He also helped produce a Netflix documentary, “The Game Changers.” On top of these endeavors, Vogt is an avid runner who just set a world record. Crazy, right?
The World Record
A few weeks ago, Vogt set out to run seven marathons on seven continents in 77 hours. He succeeded – but it took him just over 81 hours, which he highlighted at the end. Of course, that’s still incredibly impressive. Vogt chose to visit Antarctica, Argentina, Panama, Spain, Egypt, Oman and Australia – in that order. To hit each area in only four days, he needed to prepare in a pretty precise manner.
On his Twitter account, Vogt explained that he had built software specifically for this trip. He mapped out the shortest route per a few different variables, like airport size and travel advisories. Vogt’s finalized path took a total of 38.5 hours of flight time. Then, he set aside a few hours of rest between each destination.
Before liftoff, Vogt trained accordingly. He ran three marathons in three American cities in 24 hours. He also ate a plant-based diet, which helped him fuel his journey. Many marathon runners do the same prior to their races. Though their preparations may not be as intense, it’s common for athletes to work on their bodies so that they’re ready for the big day.
A Few Exceptions
It’s crucial to note that Vogt did have some help along the way. He flew to each destination on a private jet and had a team of doctors and coaches there to help. As such, he didn’t have to wait in lines or head to the hospital for a health evaluation. This achievement is certainly notable, but it’s not so feasible for the average person.
If you were to plan a similar trip, a ton of logistics would get in the way. You’d have to plan each marathon down to the minute so that you could make it to the next one on time. Of course, Vogt had to account for weather delays, which luckily didn’t occur. In any case, he had a lot of resources on hand to make his journey that much easier.
Make 2020 Your Record-Breaking Year
We can all take a little inspiration from Vogt’s story. If he can make time to pursue his goals, so can you! Put your game face on and get in touch with your competitive side. You don’t have to run 7 marathons on 7 continents to make 2020 your best yet.
