New world champion: Hong Kong runner conquers seven marathons on seven continents in seven days
Triathlete David Gething completes his last race in Australia to win World Marathon Challenge
Fighting fatigue, jet lag and sleep deprivation, Hong Kong resident and amateur triathlete David Gething yesterday won the World Marathon Challenge, conquering seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.
Gething, 39, completed the feat in Sydney, crossing the finishing line under the harbour bridge in a respectable time of 3:29:31.
Part of my toes are lost to frost bite, all the tendons in my feet are gone
“To be honest, the fact I've won hasn't sunk in yet. The experience has been a real roller coaster - very high highs, extremely low lows, and totally draining,” he said.
“Part of my toes are lost to frost bite, all the tendons in my feet are gone. My kneecaps are aching and it will take a few days’ rest before I can start to feel normal again,” said 39-year-old Gething, a veterinary doctor who hails from Melbourne and moved to Hong Kong in 2000.
After 59 hours spent in the air, travelling over 38,000kms, and a further 295.4kms completed under his own steam, Gething finished with a combined time of 25 hours, 36 minutes and 3 seconds.
Gething beat 11 other competitors chosen to run standard 42.2km marathon distances at Union Glacier (Antarctica), Punta Arenas (Chile), Miami (US), Madrid (Spain), Marrakech (Morocco), Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Sydney (Australia).