TAMPA, Fla. — KellyAnn Jenkins started running like most people in adulthood. She did it to be more active, and more fit. 

What You Need To Know

  • The World Marathon Challenge is a logistical and physical challenge to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven continuous days, or 168 hours from the start of the first marathon to the finish of the final marathon

  • KellyAnn began the challenge on Jan. 31 and finished on Feb. 6

  • Jenkins did run for a cause called MS Happens. It's a foundation she helped start after her sister was diagnosed in 2020 with multiple sclerosis

“I started small. When I started, I couldn’t even run a mile without stopping. So, I just gradually kept going. I made it a goal to run my first 5k,” said Jenkins.

That 5k turned into a 10k, which turned into a half marathon, and then a full marathon. 

“It’s just the challenge,” said Jenkins. “As I started running more and more, I wanted to continue to run more. You do get a really good adrenaline rush after, it feels really good. And I just want to keep chasing that feeling.”

A chase that would lead her to the World Marathon Challenge. This group helps people run seven marathons, in seven days, on seven different continents. 

“We would run, grab some food, shower, and get back on the plane. In Brazil, we actually didn’t even have time to shower. I finished running, went to the bus, and went straight to the airport,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins and several other runners began in Cape Town, South Africa, with a race briefing before they flew to Antarctica on Jan. 31 for marathon #1.

Afterward, they flew back to Cape Town to run marathon #2. Following, they headed to Perth, Australia for marathon #3, and then over to Dubai for marathon #4.

Marathon #5 was in Madrid in Europe and #6 was in Brasil in South America. They finally landed in Miami, Florida on Feb. 6 for marathon #7.

“The race director told us in the race briefing, ‘there will be a point in time where questioning it, probably race 4, 5, or 6.’ For me, it happened 10 miles into race one in Antarctica. It was negative 26 degrees,” said Jenkins. 

But cold or not, she did it. Seven medals now hang on the wall in her St. Petersburg home. 

And she now has a new goal. 

“Next month I am running the Boston Marathon, and then the London Marathon the weekend after. And then the Big Sur marathon the weekend after that,” said Jenkins. 

Jenkins ran for the cause, MS Happens. It’s a foundation she helped start after her sister was diagnosed in 2020 with multiple sclerosis.