- A doctor will run for seven consecutive days on every continent, including Antarctica
- Over the week, Gamblin and the other marathoners will cover around 294 km
- For Gamblin, running has been therapy in his fight against cancer
- Gamblin became interested in marathons as a medical school student
A doctor will run for seven consecutive days on every continent, including Antarctica
Milwaukee physician Clark Gamblin, a cancer survivor, is preparing to run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents, including Antarctica. It may come as a surprise to many, but for a man from Wisconsin, it's the feat of a lifetime, spreading awareness about the most common form of cancer affecting young men[1].
The first marathon will take place in Antarctica on 31 January 2025. There, Clark and an international team of 60 runners will run the first 26.2 miles (42 km) of the World Marathon Challenge wearing ski goggles, sports boots and snow pants. From there, Gamblin and the rest of the team will travel to Cape Town (South Africa), Perth (Australia) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates). From there, they will fly to Madrid (Spain) and Fortaleza (Brazil), with the last run scheduled for Miami. In Miami, Gamblin will see his family on the finish line.
All finishers will be accepted into the Intercontinental Marathon Club, which has approximately 200 members. In any case, the fast pace of the race, spread over seven days, means that it will not be a relaxing holiday for the participants.
"The most intriguing is the Antarctica run... It will be such a unique environment," says the man.
Over the week, Gamblin and the other marathoners will cover around 294 km
Over the course of a week, Gamblin and the other marathon runners will cover 183 miles (about 294 km) in 168 hours. Surgeon who battled testicular cancer takes part in the World Marathon Challenge[2].
"We'll be on the plane for about 60 hours in seven days, so it's run, then plane, then run, then run, then run, then plane again," Gamblin said of the pace. However, he believes that it is not some Herculean feat if you are prepared - anything is possible. Gamblin started training for the race a year ago. While it may seem physically demanding for a person to run seven marathons in seven consecutive days, the World Marathon Challenge has been bringing together runners worldwide for almost a decade.
"It's a physical challenge - no doubt - but there are much more physically demanding things that people have overcome," says the man.
For Gamblin, running has been therapy in his fight against cancer
"Running has really helped," he admitted. Running has always been a therapy, the doctor says - a chance to think, pray and concentrate. Gamblin has, among other things, a support team.
The World Marathon Challenge takes care of the logistics of the flights and hotels for the participants. In addition, Gamblin's expertise as a surgeon is also useful in this respect. The runner says he has also enlisted the help of a dietician who works at the same hospital to help him adjust his protein and fluid readings. He also has a fitness trainer who advises him on avoiding injuries. However, Gamblin says his wife is his biggest help.
"Even though she is not a runner, she is the No. 1 supporter," said Gamblin. The second most important people on the list are the coach, the nutritionist, and the physiotherapist.
As part of the World Marathon Challenge, the doctor plans to raise funds for the Testicular Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization. The marathon challenge is expected to raise USD 250,000.
Gamblin became interested in marathons as a medical school student
Gamblin, who specializes in liver and bile duct cancer, became interested in marathons as a medical school student. His current goal is particularly close to his heart as he is a cancer survivor himself. In 2018, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer after noticing a suspicious lump[3].
"I thought it was probably nothing, but I was very diligent and very quickly found out that it was testicular cancer. And testicular cancer is the number one cancer in men aged between 15 and 45," he explained.
That same year, he ran the Boston and New York marathon. After completing both, he took on an even bigger challenge by completing all six major marathons in the world despite the news of his cancer. He ran many of the races for the American Liver Foundation and other health-oriented charities.
After undergoing chemotherapy and two operations, he has been cancer-free for four years. Gamblin desired to spread the word, which led to long and hard training. He said he even looks forward to the simple pleasures of the race, such as getting to know other runners.
"I believe it will be a unique group of people with whom I will build lifelong friendships," he said. Ultimately, the doctor hopes that his story will encourage others to pursue their goals to the fullest.
"I think too often in life we don't set our goals high enough - we don't take enough risks... But risk is what I aspire to," the doctor said.
The 60-year-old runner reveals that he is motivated primarily by gratitude for support and health.
