British runner Susannah Gill has won the World Marathon Challenge after running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.
The 34-year-old finished the final race in Miami in a time of 3:26:34 to set a new world record.
Gill completed the 183-mile challenge on Wednesday night and, after finishing second in the first marathon in Antarctica, won each of the six remaining races.
I did it!!!! 🏃♀️💪 Miami marathon done @WorldMarathon77!! Finished 777 with a 3:26:24 marathon along South Beach and set a new World Record in the process!! What a week!! Thank you for all the support along the way and donations to @TeamSportsAid. #marathon777 https://t.co/VvtA8QD7tc — Susannah Gill (@TheIronLadyRuns) February 7, 2019
Competitors ran the standard marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2km) in Novo (Antarctica), Cape Town (South Africa), Perth (Australia), Dubai (Asia), Lisbon (Europe), Cartagena (South America) and Miami (North America).
Athletes had to contend with temperatures as low as -35C in Antarctica then battle heat of up to 35C in Perth just two days later.
"It was a crazy ambition that I wanted to do. The challenge seemed absolutely irresistible to me," Gill told the BBC.
"Ten years ago, I just wanted to get fit and run the London Marathon. Now, marathon running has literally taken me around the world.
"It's been an extraordinary week. I've loved it but it's been tough.
"Although none of us have slept in a bed for a week, and we've probably never had more than three hours' sleep at a time in a plane seat, strangely none of us want to go to bed because that means it's all over.
"I think I've averaged about 3:28 to beat the existing female world record, which was 3:55 (for each marathon). I never thought I could string those sorts of performances together but I just got into a flow."
Not too much time for sleeping – Britain's Susannah Gill @TheIronLadyRuns on her way to Santiago for leg number 6 – @WorldMarathon77 @mikebreakfast pic.twitter.com/7eRcQL1Ur5 — HUTC (@HUTCTV) February 5, 2019
She added: "Races one to four were OK; five, six and seven have been really, really hard. I started to question whether it was such a good idea, but I got through it.
"The first four marathons I was eating quite well and getting enough calories in, and then marathons five, six and seven I've actually been waking myself up because I've been so hungry."
Gill estimates she was burning around 5,000 calories a day during the intense event.
American Mike Wardian won the men's title after winning the final marathon in Miami in a time of 2:53:03.
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