LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man from southern Indiana ran seven marathons on seven continents in less than seven days to complete a global challenge.
Corey Burton took on the World Marathon Challenge, a grueling physical and logistical competition, to promote awareness for Freedom 13, a nonprofit founded to honor 13 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan back in 2021.
The World Marathon Challenge started at Ultima Basecamp in Antarctica and was followed by marathons in Cape Town (Africa), Perth (Australia), Dubai (Asia), Madrid (Europe), Fortaleza (South America) and Miami (North America).
The Columbus, Indiana, native and a few dozen other competitors dealt with changing temperatures, times and landscapes across the world.
"Overall the temperature changes were a bit of a challenge, we went from running in 20 degree weather in Antarctica one day to about 75 degree weather in Cape Town in high humidity and an unrelenting sun," Burton said.
In Antarctica, runners face temperatures in the low 20s with sunshine. But the turnaround from Antarctica to Cape Town was short.
"We ended up running those first two marathons in less than 24 hours, which I did not anticipate going into the race," Burton said.
The runners would rest, recover and eat on plane flights to the next continent. Burton said the meals on the plane flights were good, but competitors would rush to consume additional calories at airports.
"I wanted to make sure I was getting enough calories, carbohydrates, good sodium balance," Burton said.
Burton recalled eating two pizzas at an airport's Pizza Hut during the trip.
"I'm inhaling one as I wait for another one to be ready," Burton said.
Staying hydrated was also another challenge competitors faced.
"It was a constant battle to stay hydrated throughout," Burton said. "I was trying to make sure I had the proper balance between water and electrolytes."
Burton estimated he got around four hours of sleep each day.
Corey Burton crosses the finish line in Miami, Fla. to complete the World Marathon Challenge on Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo courtesy Richard Ducker/Lucas Abreu @ Runbuk/World Marathon Challenge)
In the toughest moments, Burton had a way to keep going.
"There was a point in every race where I kept thinking, I kept looking up at the sky, kept looking down at the memorial wristbands that I wear and just thinking to myself, this is why you're doing this," Burton said.
The Freedom 13 was founded after 13 U.S. troops were killed in Kabul, Afghanistan during withdrawal efforts at an airport August 26, 2021. The Freedom 13 was created to build recreational camps in all 50 states to help U.S. military veterans and their families in support of physical and mental well-being.
The University of Louisville graduate ran to raise funding and awareness for the nonprofit.
"I consider the Freedom 13 to be a life-long commitment," Burton said.
Sleep deprived and facing a severe calorie deficit, Burton crossed the final finish line in Miami with friends and family cheering him on.
"There was this overwhelming sense of relief, this thing that I had committed almost two years of my life to was over, I had done it. I had accomplished the goal," Burton said. "On the other hand, there's this sense of it's over now. And it's sort of time to move onto the next thing."
The group collectively set the fastest time in the race's history, completing the global challenge in 143 hours.
"There was never really a sense of uber-competitiveness between the best runners and the middle of the road runners. Everybody was there to encourage everyone else," Burton said. "You'll never forget the people who you were with when you went through something like this."
Burton plans to continue running a few marathons a year. He said his next marathon could be the Kentucky Derby Festival's race in April.
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