Herald AM, 6th February 2009

Seven marathons Seven continents Seven days

AN Irish ultra distance runner yesterday became the first athlete to crack the world's ultimate endurance race – seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.

Richard Donovan began the epic challenge at -20C in Antarctica on January 31 before battling snowstorms in London and the searing heat of Dubai and Chile to run 295km and fly 43,000km.

The ambitious 42year-old, who today completed the unique round-the-world race to raise awareness of the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan, is already thinking of his next challenge and the final frontier in ultra-running.

"I've no certain plans, but always had the idea of running across the continent of Antarctica rather than just small sections of it in races," the Galway man said.

"It would take a big sponsor, though, which probably isn't realistic in today's economic climate.

"I've run at both poles and in deserts, mountains, jungle and various other terrain and climatic conditions. I think the Antarctic challenge is the last frontier."

Donovan used the endurance race to promote Irish charity Goal's repeated calls for international peacekeepers to be sent in to Darfur.

"Richard has done something truly remarkable," Goal's John O'Shea said.

"Not only has he set a record that will not be easily beaten but he has also brought much needed attention to the ongoing tragedy in Darfur.

"Everyone in Goal thanks him for his efforts to raise awareness of this humanitarian catastrophe and congratulates him on his new record." Donovan began in Antarctica on January 31 before flying through a snowstorm to Cape Town, on to the searing heat of Dubai, the snow in London and Toronto, before battling 32C in Santiago in Chile and a similar heatwave in Sydney.

He completed it in five days, 10 hours and eight minutes.

The biggest worry came on the first day as conditions closed in on the Russian Novo air base, sparking fears that his plane would be grounded.

"It would have meant I would have had to run the marathon again the following day in order to do everything in under seven days," Donovan said.

"That marathon was not something I'd want to run again."

©Herald AM