Calgary man runs seven marathons in seven days, seven continents

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The 168-hour clock began ticking the second Munish Mohendroo took his first step on an ice area in Antarctica.

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Behind him on the beginning line was an enormous Soviet-era cargo aircraft that he had boarded hours earlier on January 31, deemed the “most secure” solution to transport himself and the handfuls of athletes in his firm to the southernmost continent from their rendezvous level. South Africa. Forward of him was a frozen airstrip close to a Russian analysis station, which might function a marathon route – unexpectedly modified from its authentic eight-kilometer loop to a two-kilometer, straight out-and-back, in order that race officers had an eye fixed was capable of maintain on to runners for the complete 42-kilometer race as icy winds threatened to blow in some nasty climate.

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“It is simply unbelievable. We did not have every other folks there. We did not even see a fowl whereas we have been working. . . Antarctica was particular,” mentioned Mohendroo.

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The Calgarian accomplished the glacial run in a brisk six hours — however that was simply the primary of seven marathons Mohendroo would run in seven days in every of the world’s seven continents as he tried to finish the World Marathon Problem.

‘Very difficult, very intriguing’

In 2022, Mohendroo, an informal runner, was sidelined by reconstructive surgical procedure on his ACL after a snowboarding incident. As he sat up in mattress looking out the Web for a post-recovery aim, he discovered what he described as a “very difficult, very intriguing” potential conquest — the World Marathon Problem.

“I exchanged just a few messages with the race director,” who himself had overcome a seemingly intractable knee damage, says Mohendroo, “and he was like, ‘Yeah, you are able to do it.’ “

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Within the months that adopted, Mohendroo – together with round 50 different individuals worldwide – started his “brutal” coaching for the unbelievable feat – rigorously curating his meals, train and sleep patterns in preparation for the week-long globetrot. The journey price about $60,000, Mohendroo mentioned, and included many of the meals and journey.

The World Marathon Problem, began in 2015 by International Working Adventures, has had solely six Canadian finishers in its historical past.

“The preliminary response from my spouse and, in fact, my mom was like, ‘You are loopy, proper?’ ” he mentioned.

‘Eat meals, sleep… and run’

After assembly in Cape City, South Africa, the group got down to full full marathons in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Brazil and america, and around the globe between January 31 flew chartered planes. and February 6. The tightly scheduled trek featured no resort stays after they started, with runners squeezing in naps and meals as they traveled from continent to continent.

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“We might actually sleep on the aircraft,” Mohendroo mentioned, including that for about half of the complete journey they have been within the air or on a bus. “The thought there was simply eat meals, sleep, as a result of you already know you are going to stand up and run.”

Time was of the essence because the clock stored ticking at the same time as logistical points set them again. An surprising additional day of their second vacation spot, coupled with an extra delay down the stretch, noticed them run their final three marathons within the final 40 hours of the problem.

“Bodily it was brutal,” he mentioned.

Every of the runners has the aches and pains related to any marathon – blisters, muscle strains, and many others. — coping with the added battle of getting one other 42-kilometer run simply hours and a cramped flight away. The shut quarters was a problem in itself, with a abdomen ache working by means of the group, forcing some to subsist totally on water and light-weight snacks when heavier meals would not final.

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However by means of all of it, Mohendroo mentioned what stored him going was the great help of his family and friends — his spouse even ran with him for many of the final marathon in Miami — and people who lined the pavement. stomping subsequent to him.

“All people sooner or later has had some form of ailment or one thing we’re going by means of,” he mentioned. “However everybody was there to help one another to verify all of us completed.”

‘What fantastic issues we are able to all obtain’

As he crossed the end line in Miami, Mohendroo mentioned he ran right into a good friend who was unknowingly carrying his victory meal.

“I checked out his hand, I am like, ‘Man, what’s that?’ And he was like, ‘Oh, that is a chilly piece of pizza’ — I mentioned, ‘I will take it.’ “

The ravaging starvation continued for a number of days; Mohendroo mentioned that upon his return to Calgary, he made a number of late-night journeys to the fridge, free of the strict meal plans he had adhered to for many of the previous 12 months.

However one thing that may outlast his rumbling abdomen are the reminiscences he made and the teachings he discovered throughout his travels around the globe.

“Seventy to 80 % of this was religious,” Mohendroo mentioned. “And that is one of many greatest issues I got here away with: (when) you channel your vitality and your thoughts — what wonderful issues we are able to all accomplish.”

mrodriguez@postmedia.com

Twitter: @michaelrdrguez