Marathon Man Bill Schroeder Runs Marathon on all Seven Continents in Seven Months

Marathon Man Bill Schroeder Runs Marathon on all Seven Continents in Seven Months

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Bill Schroeder, who has coached the Georgetown-based “No-Excuses Except Lightening” running program since 2005, has a Marathon PR of 2:36:22, set in Chicago in 1998. He’s finished 139 marathons or ultras. He’s run a marathon in all 50 States with each under four hours (129th person to join the 50<4 club). Now he’s got three states left to run them all under 3:30 and he’s almost done running a marathon in all 50 States twice.

But on July 7, Schroeder, who turns 62 on August 9, competed an even bigger challenge: running a marathon or ultra on all 7 continents in 7 months ending on 7/7. The challenge was made up of the Los Cruces Marathon (North America); White Ultramarathon (Antarctica); Punta Arenas Marathon (South America); Tokyo Marathon (Asia); London Marathon (Europe; Comrades Ultramarathon (Africa); and the Gold Coast Marathon (Australia), where he ran with the race bib number 777.

Here's a little recap of this extraordinary runner’s journey in Bill’s own words:

Continent #1 (North America) Las Cruces marathon, January 6. “I had run the race before and knew it was a relatively flat course,” Schroeder said.  “What I wasn’t expecting was the winds out of the west that provided a headwind the entire second half of the course. No matter what, I got it done.”

Continent #2 (Antarctica) White Continent 50k, January 22. “Antarctica didn’t disappoint in the beauty, desolation, and a tough challenge. I would say the hardest part of this continent is the complete unknown. Unknown when we would be able to fly there. Unknown racecourse terrain and elevation. Unknown race conditions. Finally, the unknown of how long we would end up staying on Antarctica. I have never run a race that in six hours saw bright sun, the sunset, and then the sunrise,” said Schroeder.

Continent #3 (South America) Punta Arenas Marathon, January 26. “My biggest apprehension was how strong would the winds be for the race,” said Schroeder. “The marathon was six laps. 2.2 miles out and 2.2 miles back, so a total of 26.4 miles on the hike/bike path that followed the coastline—relatively flat. The first half was wonderful and was almost warm. During the marathon, the wind increased from 5-8mph to 20mph and it was tough heading out to the turn around, but it was nice finishing the last 2.2 mile with a tailwind,”

Continent #4 (Asia) Tokyo Marathon, March 3. “It took me five years of confirmed entries to finally step up to and get Tokyo done,” said Schroeder. “The pandemic cancelled a couple of those and I had my right ear reconstructed from an aggressive and deep form of basal cell carcinoma the week I was to leave for Tokyo 2023. I was extremely happy that I was chosen to run for and support the Japan Cancer Society. On race morning I remember standing in my assigned starting corral, looking up at the starting line structure and getting chills, hearing the starting gun go off, seeing the confetti hearts explode in the air, and realizing I finally got to start with 38,000 other runners.”

Continent #5 (Europe) London Marathon, April 21. “This year I chose to raise money for the London-based charity, Samaritans, because I realize that many people are directly impacted by suicide and even more consider harming themselves,” said Schroeder. “ At one mile into the marathon I felt a twitch in my upper left hamstring. It was painful and had it not been that it was a major marathon, I would have stopped at three miles. I pressed on, holding a pace that didn’t seem to make it worse. I never walked, even though I wanted to a lot, and with two miles to go, I knew if I did then I wouldn’t break four hours. I finished with my slowest marathon time ever. I was proud that I finished in under four hours.”

Continent #6 (Africa) Comrades Ultramarathon (85.1k), June 9. “Comrades ultra marathon for me is a race that doesn’t just touch my heart, but more so, my soul,” said Schroeder. “It lives up to its reputation as the ‘ultimate human race.’ There are 48 aid stops. for a 53-mile race! There are people all along the course and team tents and it doesn’t matter if you are with that team or not, if you need something, ask and they will get it for you. This was a special year for me because I was going for my back-to-back medal, which you can get the year after your first finish. You have one shot at it. My plan was to never run faster than nine-minute pace, especially on the stressful downhills. Keep in mind that this race goes up for a total of 6,000 feet and down for a total of 4,000 feet."

Continent #7 (Australia) Gold Coast Marathon, July 7.  “Wow what a day! Great way to end my personal challenge to do 7 marathons or ultras on 7 continents in 7 months,” said Schroeder.  “The weather was great for spectators but not for running a marathon. With my lack of training and weather issues, I knew if I pushed it then I would ruin the celebration. I knew I could go sub-4 but it would hurt so much and it was really hot. Therefore, I decided to enjoy my 7^th continent victory lap and finished with a smile and not feeling nauseous and horrible. At dinner, the mackerel fish can that held our utensils had 777 on it. A fitting end to my 7 marathons or ultras on 7 continents in 7 months personal challenge.”

Upcoming Races:  Saturday, August 3 at 7:00 a.m., the Summer Sizzler 5K/10K at Garey Park in Georgetown. Saturday, August 17 at 7:00 a.m. Off to the Races 5K at Sunfield Elementary School in Buda. Saturday, August 31 at 7:00 a.m., the Summer Meltdown Half Marathon at Garey Park in Georgetown.