Original reporting – Jaelin Diehl
Typically, a runner will spend months preparing for one marathon, but for one Tampa couple, this preparation is for seven marathons… on seven continents… in seven days.
For Jill and Dougin Walker, one race is not enough. The Tampa couple has built a life around endurance sports. They even stopped in the middle of an Ironman to get married.
Extreme challenges are nothing new for the pair; they once completed six Ironmans… on six continents… in just six weeks.
Jill has even competed in at least 100 Ironman competitions. The couple has also both competed in the Boston Marathon over 10 times.
Now they’re preparing to take that even further.
“It’s so much nicer, so much more fun to be doing it with somebody else, for sure,” Dougin Walker said. “All of these challenges, we’ve done them together, and maybe I could’ve done it myself, but it wouldn’t have been as special.”
The World Marathon Challenge starts in Antarctica in January. From there, they will race across six more continents. They will spend about 68 hours in the air and run more than 180 miles.
The couple will finish the challenge in Miami, where friends are already planning to help them celebrate their finish.
When asked why they’re taking on this challenge, the couple’s answer was simple.
“Because we can, you know it’s so worth it.” Jill said
“Yeah because it’s so cool.” Dougin added
“Another challenge,” Jill said… “It’s cool, just love it.” Dougin Said
For now, the couple does not have a special training plan. The Walkers say they will prepare for seven marathons the same way they know best. By keeping their race calendar full until January.