Day
1
Auckland, New Zealand (Zealandia)
With the announcement of Zealandia as the newest continent, we have decided to start there and run our way around to Antarctica. We are pleased to be competing in The 7th Annual 8th Continent Marathon & Half-Marathon organized by the Auckland YMCA Marathon Club. Auckland weather is relatively mild in January with expected high temps in the range of 20-25 degrees Celsius (70-80 degrees Fahrenheit). The race will begin at 7:00 a.m. and have a time limit of 7 hours. In 2020, the race temp was 49 degrees at the start and reached 75 degrees by the finish. The night before runners will sleep in a comfy hotel bed.
Day
2
Perth, Australia (Australia)
The 2023 Triple 8 Quest will once again be competing in The 7th Annual Australia Day Marathon & Half-Marathon in Perth, Australia organized by a local race organization. Perth has warmer weather than Auckland, where high temps can range from 25-35 degrees Celsius. Prior to the race start at 6:00 a.m., runners will awake in their hotel bed adjacent to the running facility. With the early morning start, runners should hopefully avoid those extreme high temps. In 2020, the race temp was 52 degrees at the start and only 72 at the finish. The course is also flat as the race runs along the Swan River. Runners will have a 7 hour time limit
Day
3
Singapore, Singapore (Asia)
For our third race we will fly to the beautiful country of Singapore, where we will compete in the 7th Annual Singapore Beach Marathon & Half-Marathon (don't worry we run on paths next to the beach) being organized by a local race organization. The weather in Singapore is warm and humid all year with temperatures typically in the low-80's to low 90's Fahrenheit for high temperatures (26-34 Celsius) with lows in the upper-60's to mid-70's. However, the race starts at 5:00 a.m. hoping to avoid most of the heat. In 2020, temps were in the upper 70's to start and reached 83 by the time our last runner finished. The course is flat and much of it is shaded as the race is held in a park along the shore. We run along a path that is well lit in the early morning hours and will be able to see a beautiful sunrise. Runners will have a 7 hour time limit.
Day
4
Cairo, Egypt (Africa)
In 2023 we will return to Cairo, Egypt in Africa for our fourth race. As in 2020 we will be running in the 9th Annual Marathon Cairo & Half-Marathon in Cairo, Egypt. Prior to the start, runners will once again awaken in their hotel room after a reasonable sleep in a warm bed. Our runners from the previous Triple 7/8 Quests were all very overwhelmed by the friendliness and helpfulness of everyone in Cairo. The marathon is run through the streets of Cairo, which do remain open to traffic. But given the early start the traffic is light. There are numerous volunteers who help provide directions and aide along the course. Runners will have a 7 hour time limit. The temps in 2020 were in the upper 40's at the start and only lower 60's by the finish. Runners in both 2020 and 2018 were able to visit the Pyramids following their races.
Day
5
Amsterdam, Netherlands (Europe)
In 2023, we will return to Amsterdam. There we will compete in the 7th Annual Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Marathon and Half-Marathon will be held at Amsterdam Bos near Schipol Airport, held by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. The race course will be mostly flat, with a couple of very small undulations. Temperatures will be 35-45 degrees Fahrenheit above zero (8-12 degrees Celsius). The races starts at 8:30 a.m. for the Marathon and 10:30 a.m. for the Half-Marathon. Runners will stroll over to the start from the adjacent hotel, after getting nearly 8 hours of good rest in a warm hotel bed. Runners will have a 6 hour time limit.
Day
6
New York, NY, USA (North America)
After Amsterdam, we will fly to the United States where we will take part in The 9th Annual Icebreaker International Marathon & Half-Marathon held at Eisenhower Park in Garden City, New York. The race is hosted by The Greater Long Island Running Club. With a mid-evening arrival into New York, runners will get plenty of rest in our hotel prior to the 9:00 a.m. race start. Runners in 2020 were joined by over 500 local runners. Runners will have a 7 hour time limit.
Day
7
Punta Arenas, Chile (South America)
Our penultimate race will be held on the southern tip of Chile in the coastal town of Punta Arenas (commonly known as the gateway to Antarctica) in Patagonia, Chile. There we will compete in the 10th annual Southern Cross Marathon & Half-Marathon which will take place on a course that runs along the Straits of Magellan. The temperature varies in Punta Arenas; anywhere from 20
Day
8
King George Island, Antarctica (Antarctica)
The final race of the Triple 8 Quest will be The 10th Annual White Continent Marathon & Half-Marathon held around the research bases of King George Island in Antarctica. The weather in Antarctica is highly unpredictable as the mercury can drop to -20