Established 2015

9 Editions

The Authentic 777^™

World
Marathon
Challenge^®

Next Event: 10th Edition · Jan. 30 – Feb. 5, 2027

7 Marathons

7 Continents

7 Days^®

The 777 challenge

By the numbers.

183

Miles Run

23,600

Miles Travelled

168

Hour Race Clock

EDITIONS SINCE 2015

Heritage

9 Editions.
The Authentic 777 Challenge^™.

The World Marathon Challenge^® has produced 9 editions since 2015. The next edition will be the 10th edition in Jan/Feb 2027.

2015

Inaugural

Champions of the first edition: David Gething & Marianna Zaikova.

2016

First US Woman

Becca Pizzi becomes first US woman to complete the 777.

2017

Men's Record

Michael Wardian sets fastest average: 2:45:57 per marathon.

2018

Global Attention

777 Challenge gains international recognition.

2019

Women's Record

Susannah Gill: 3:28:09 women's average-time record.

2020

First Woman Overall

Kristina Schou Madsen wins outright: 3:25:57 average.

2023

new momentum

Global momentum renewed post-pandemic.

2025

Records Fall

Estefanía Ünzu Ripoll & Tomomi Bitoh set new women's marks.

2026

9th Edition

Wardian & Reed champions. Oldest woman finisher: age 70.

2027

10th Edition

Jan 30 – Feb 5, 2027. Antarctica to Miami.

2026 · BBC NEWS

The 2026 777 CHALLENGE

"Ordinary people can do extraordinary things."

Bobby White ran the 2026 World Marathon Challenge^® in memory of his brother Anton · As covered by BBC News.

Two decades after losing his 15-year-old brother, the dad-of-two from Clydebank self-funded the seven-continent challenge and crossed all seven finish lines, averaging 5:09:58 a marathon, raising more than £32,000 for the Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity that supported his family. It's the kind of story this event produces every January: not elite times, but ordinary people carrying something bigger than themselves across seven continents in a week.

READ THE STORY

why we run

Seven finish lines.
A thousand reasons.

The start line fills with people chasing something bigger than a medal. A few of the stories filed from the course, across a decade of editions.

2018 · The Washington Post

The man who lined up in Antarctica with Parkinson's - and didn't stop.

READ

2020 · runner's world

The first woman to win the World Marathon Challenge^® outright.

READ

2025 · The New York Times

A cancer surgeon tells his patients to reach for the impossible. Then he ran it.

READ

View the full press room →

Intercontinental Marathon Club®

A club you finish your way into.

Complete all seven and your name joins the Wall of Legends — the growing roll of everyone who has run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days at the official event. Not a leaderboard. A worldwide camaraderie forged through an extraordinary journey.

Wall of Legends

292

members

COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

80K

Social Following

630K

▲ Past 3 years

Site Visitors

777^™ Legacy

Join the Class of 2027 →

locations

Ultima

Antarctica

Cape Town

Africa

Perth

Australia

Dubai

Asia

Madrid

Europe

FORTALEZA

South america

miami

North america

Inspiration

Fastest Avg. (Men):
Michael Wardian, 2:45:57

Fastest Avg. (Women):
Estefania Ripoll, 3:18:30

Shortest Duration (Women):
Tomomi Bitoh, 5d 19h 7m

First Blind Finisher:
Sinead Kane

Fastest 50km (Men):
Michael Wardian, avg. 3:48:37

Fastest 50km (Women):
Julianne Fox, avg. 5:05:59

Fastest Couple: Monica Righelli & Serge Enckels

Fastest in Traditional Nepali Outfit: Bal Joshi

Oldest Woman: Domitilia dos Santos, 70 years old

Oldest Man:
Dan Little, 80 years old

Fastest Brothers:
Robert & Charles

First Handcycle Finisher:
Darren Edwards

First Wheelchair Finisher (Assisted): Johanna Garvin

First Amputee Finisher:
Sarah Reinertsen

First Wheelchair Finisher:
William Tan

@worldmarathonchallenge777

An Unforgettable Journey

We capture the transformative stories of participants in the 777 World Marathon Challenge, not only as personal mementos, but more importantly to show that no human is limited.

watch all videos

Established 2015

The Authentic 777^™

Your potential has no limits

Registration is open for the 10th Edition, Antarctica to Miami, Jan 30 – Feb 5, 2027. Fields are small and selective. Secure your place on the start line.

Organized by RunBuk

Delivered by Team Runbuk.

The official World Marathon Challenge® is organized by Runbuk, a global team specializing in designing, operating, and delivering world-class endurance events in some of the world's most remote and demanding environments.

Race Management

Race direction, course certification, timing, results, and athlete operations across all seven legs.

Global Logistics

Charter aviation, ground transport, customs, and venue coordination across seven continents in 168 hours.

Medical & Performance

On-site medical teams, hydration, recovery support, and coordination across all seven continents.

Media & Broadcast

In-house photo, video, and press operations. Handles accreditation, b-roll, embeds, and live story feeds.

Athlete Services

Briefings, gear check, and around-the-clock support for every competitor throughout the event.

Registration & General Enquiries:

info@runbuk.com

Media & Press:

press@worldmarathonchallenge.com

who we are

RUNBUK creates the endurance events the rest of the world calls impossible - from the northernmost and southernmost marathons to the 777 World Marathon Challenge.

One community. Every continent. Every Runbuk start line welcomes athletes into a global community of extraordinary achievers, including 600+ members of the 7 Continents Marathon Club^™️, 290+ members of the Intercontinental Marathon Club^®, and 190+ members of the Marathon Grand Slam Club^®. Thousands more are writing the next chapter of their endurance journey with RUNBUK.

The mission of Runbuk® is to help you explore the world through running. From deep inside Antarctica to the top of the world at the North Pole, or anywhere between, Runbuk can be found.

More about Runbuk