From Bucket List to Reality: Running Ultramarathons on All 7 Continents
- Jen Bloss
- 22 hours ago
- 10 min read
Have you ever had an idea you can’t shake, even though you have no idea where it came from?
For me, it was running a marathon on every continent. I’m not sure how the seed got planted, but I remember a conversation about a marathon in Antarctica more than a decade ago. I added it to the “bucket list” note in my phone and went about life. I never forgot about it, but it was just one of those “someday” ideas.
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International ideas going nowhere
Then one day in July 2020, there was a looming registration deadline for the UTMB Tarawera ultramarathon in New Zealand. It just looked SO pretty and I knew I had to do it. I checked the rules for the official Seven Continents Club, and they count New Zealand as Oceania, so the race qualified. I signed up, knowing full well that I wouldn’t run it for a while due to COVID border restrictions, and a 3 year deferral was granted to international athletes. I forgot about the race, and entered a dark period of COVID ICU nursing, full-time grad school, and then ensuing mental health challenges. I learned that mental and physical stress pull from the same energy “bank account”, and I didn’t run far for a long time.
Getting momentum
The fall of 2023 came around and I felt the darkness lifting, and somehow my runs were getting better. I finally signed up for an ultra that I’d been dying to do for years, the Woodside Ramble in Redwood City, CA. I love running through the woods, and this race was in the redwood forest. My training came together and I completed the race, my first distance race in 2.5 years! Afterwards I was a bit wrecked due to all of the elevation gain and loss, but then I had a stark realization- my 3 year deferral for Tarawera was about to expire! I debated heavily whether or not I should sign up. I didn’t want to waste my money, so I signed up for the race- which was only 2 months later.
Turning points and upping the ante
That was the moment the 7 continents idea stopped being hypothetical and started becoming real. And since I had just done an ultra in New Zealand, I decided that perhaps I should change the goal- I would run an ultramarathon on every continent now! This just sounded like pure fun to me. Traveling and running are some of my favorite things, it was just a natural pairing of my passions.
And we all love milestones, don’t we? As I began to feel the threat of my thirties coming to a close, I decided to intensify the challenge- could I complete the goal before turning 40? I would have about 2.5 years to run the rest of the continents, which is a crazy pace for a 1 race/year runner like me. I often yelled at myself “don’t put a timeline on it!” But this was the secret secondary goal I was shooting for the whole time- and that’s what really turned this journey into a challenge that both inspired and intimidated me. And honestly, I didn’t really think the timeline was possible.
The journey to 7 Continents was not on a schedule
I didn’t start with all of the races planned out, I just went one at a time. I would finish one race and realize that I was not injured. And then I’d think to myself, “maybe I could do another…” and pick another race that was 5-8 weeks away. It was better than starting the training from scratch each time! At one point the goal felt missional; this was my focus and other things had to work around it.
Mission accomplished!
And now it’s wild to think that I’m on the other side of that crazy idea I had over ten years ago. And the crazier thing is that I had no idea how rare this accomplishment was until I was almost finished. In the official Seven Continents Club, I am only the 4th member (and 2nd woman) to join at the ultramarathon level! I’m sure that there are others in the world that have done this, but it’s hard to find an exact statistic. Absolutely mind boggling! I didn’t set out to do something big, it was just a personal quest involving the things I love to do.
And here’s how the 7 Continents journey unfolded
Who: I went to 3 races solo, 3 with a friend, and 1 with a group
What: Running an ultramarathon on all 7 continents before turning 40
Where:
North America: Woodside Ramble 50k, USA
South America: Patagonia Running Festival 50k, Chile
Africa: Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 65k, South Africa
Europe: Maverick Peaks Merlin Ultra 55k, United Kingdom
Asia: HK 50, Hong Kong
Australia/Oceania: Surf Coast Century 50k, Australia and UTMB Tarawera 50k, New Zealand (I’ve got my bases covered in case Zealandia gets officially approved as the 8th continent!)
Antarctica: Antarctica Marathon 50k
When: Dec 2023-March 2026. All of the races were completed in only 27 months!
Why: Because I love to travel and I love to run
Frequently Asked Questions about the 7 Continents journey
Favorite race: a tie between UTMB Tarawera and Patagonia Running Festival. Tarawera had beautiful forests, geothermal areas, and amazing race vibes. Patagonia had incredible views of Torres del Paine and the best post-race festival ever. I would do both again in a heartbeat.
Hardest race: Ultra-Trail Drakensberg- longest distance, tons of elevation gain, and at altitude.
Worst experience: a tsunami evacuation in Puerto Natales the day prior to the Patagonia race, which was extremely stressful and led to walking 20,000 steps before race day
Best experiences: Obviously, the entire Antarctica Marathon trip. But also getting to share the race experience with my friend Margot at the Patagonia Running Festival, where she ran the 11k- her first ever race
Random realization: somehow I picked mostly places that spoke English and were previously British colonies. Got a lot of experience with left hand drive! But I was constantly confused about what side of the trail to pass on
An international running tip: Get ITRA international running insurance. It’s about $50/year and covers medical emergencies and search and rescue while running abroad. Many travel insurance policies classify ultramarathons as “extreme” and don’t cover them.
Another race-cation planning tip: Try not to place your race at the end of your vacation. It just hangs over your head the whole time, and you feel fragile and hesitant to do anything that might get you injured before the run.
Tell Me More About These Races!
Here’s a quick snapshot of each race- along with one of my favorite parts of running internationally: the aid station snacks! I have written race reports for each of these as well, so check those out for the nitty gritty details. More reflections will be at the end of the post for the more philosophical readers of the bunch.
North America: Woodside Ramble 50k, Redwood City USA
This race was my re-entry into ultrarunning after a long break- the year before, I hadn’t even run 10 miles once. The course wound through dense redwood forests and was so shaded I didn’t need sunscreen. Unfortunately, it starts with an 8-mile uphill that was brutal. The race is held a few weeks before Christmas, so it’s perfect running weather in California and a great excuse to eat holiday baked goods. This is also where I discovered the magic of Pringles in an ultra. (Click here for race report)
South America: Patagonia Running Festival 50k, Torres del Paine, Chile
This race was a blast from start to finish! It began at sunrise with cotton-candy skies and snow-capped mountains in the distance- epic Patagonia scenery. The course was mostly gravel road (with the last few miles on grass), making it a fast ultra, and I PR’d my 50k here. The post-race celebration was incredible: hot showers, great food, and my favorite race shirt and swag. Aid stations were basic with mostly bars, but the post-race empanada made up for it. (Click here for race report)
Africa: Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 65k, South Africa
This race felt remote and wild, set in the Drakensberg Mountains near the border of Lesotho. It ran through a very different type of mountain range; flat topped and green. This race was very challenging: a ton of elevation gain (wish I’d brought poles) and at altitude (5-7000ft). I also got lost in the dark as my watch battery died. Aid stations had hot cross buns and hard boiled eggs! (Click here for race report)
Europe: Maverick Peaks Merlin Ultra 55k, Bakewell, United Kingdom
This race was everything I imagine when I think of England: rolling green hills, forests, SHEEP, and old stone homes. The course even ran past Chatsworth House from Pride & Prejudice. Aid stations were peak British- Jaffa cakes, a wide variety of biscuits, Jamaican ginger cake, Haribo gummies, and more. Also the best (and only) gourmet bakery spread I’ve ever seen at a starting area. (Click here for race report)
Asia: HK 50 (50k) Hong Kong
This race was tropical, pretty, and a fantastic way to see the city! Gloriously shaded for much of the course, but also a bit sinister. Long sections in the jungle sections had treacherous rocky footing, and just when you think you’re near the end, MILES of staircases appear in the full sun. Aid stations were very basic with fruit, but also saltine crackers, which were a surprising win on that day. (Click here for race report)
UTMB Tarawera 50k, Rotorua, New Zealand
This race was incredibly scenic, passing through geothermal areas with rising steam, fern forests, redwoods, and lakes. As a UTMB event, the energy was high with great swag, but it still felt welcoming and supportive. I also loved how much of the course was shaded. Aid stations had Naak drink mix, but otherwise nothing too memorable food-wise. (Click here for race report)
Australia: Surf Coast Century 50k, Anglesea, Australia
Even though UTMB Tarawera in New Zealand could have counted towards my 7 Continents Club, I wanted to also run a race on the actual Australian continent. This race calls itself the “Feel Good Ultra,” and it lived up to the name. Runners had mini name bibs on the back of their packs, which made it easy to chat along the way. The course included about 5k on the beach with dramatic sandstone cliffs and had only moderate vert and was very runnable. Aid stations had some interesting sandwiches (cucumber, raspberry), but the homemade oat slices were the real standout. (Click here for race report)
Antarctica: Antarctica Marathon 50k, King George Island, Antarctica
This race was surreal- cold (but not freezing), very windy, very hilly, and rocky. It was an eerie, otherworldly landscape of contrasting dark rock and bright moss, fog, and lakes. Despite the snow being melted, we still saw penguins along the course! There were no aid stations at all- it was completely self-supported, so you had to carry all your fuel and water. The race was incredible, but the expedition cruise through Antarctica itself was truly the highlight. (Click here for race report)
Finally completing my goal of running an ultramarathon on all 7 continents was surreal- but what surprised me most were the thoughts that stuck with me afterward:
Everyone can do cool things
By most measures, I am a very average runner. I have a normal job, no coach, and I definitely wasn’t born to be sporty. So the idea that someone like me could achieve something athletic that not many people in the world have done feels a little hard (for me) to believe.
But at the same time, it shouldn’t be. I think this journey really goes to prove that running is for everyone and that you should never disqualify yourself from anything! Big goals are achievable, but they need to be broken down into small pieces and taken one step at a time. You can’t think about how far away the end is when you’re only in the middle- which is also good race advice.
Contrary to news headlines and social media, running achievements are not just for fast people. A lot of the glory goes to winners, but the truth is that almost everybody isn’t fast. In a race, not everyone can win, or get an age group award, or even be in the top third. And that’s okay. Walking is totally okay too- the only one making rules against it is your ego. Everyone who crosses the finish line completes the same course and gets the same medal. Make it work for you!
A personality shift
It’s quite funny that I run ultras now, because running used to be the thing I hated the most in the entire world. In high school I played field hockey, but I was the goalie so that I didn’t have to run. It’s weird how life can turn upside down, and now the thing I hated most is one of the things I love the most.
It’s one of many reasons I consider running a gift from God. Through running I’ve been led to incredible friendships, boosted self-confidence, a strengthened faith, beautiful places, and a drive to push the boundaries in myself. Another reason I consider it such a gift- and one I cherish everyday- is because I have very severe scoliosis.
Running on Gratitude
My spine is curved like an “S”, with one curve well over 80 degrees, and another curve nearly 60 degrees.The fact that I can live my life, let alone run ultramarathons, with very little pain honestly blows my mind! Many people with much milder curves are in debilitating pain. I am incredibly lucky. I feel like I’ve been blessed with a huge gift, but also one that could be fleeting. One day things with my back might change, and one day I may not be able to run. Oftentimes at the starting line I recall a popular quote: “There will be a day when I cannot run. Today is not that day.” I know this gift may not last forever, and because of that I am thankful for every moment I have as a runner.
A journey of thousand miles
What started as a dormant bucket list idea ended up shaping the last few years of my life in ways I never expected. I have had so much fun pursuing this dream. It’s been an incredible privilege to explore the world and to challenge myself physically. But most importantly, it’s also allowed me to see the provision and goodness of God in my life. So much gratitude!
7 Continents run, but the adventure isn't done
My 7 Continents Club journey may be complete, but this is definitely not the end of my global exploration and running adventures! There might already even be another another race on the calendar :)
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