You’d be hardpressed to find a runner in their 70s as accomplished as Chau Smith. But for her, it’s not just about the challenge. It’s just what she likes to do.
Few people are able to say they’ve run over 100 marathons. (As of 2020, 594 people in the U.S. were registered members of the 100 Marathon Club.)
Even fewer people have finished the ultimate marathon challenge: running seven marathons on seven continents in 7 days. Usually, only a few dozen people achieve this each year.
And astronomically fewer people have done both. Meet one such person, Chau Smith.
Now 74, she’s racked up quite an impressive running resume:
- Running seven marathons on seven continents in 7 days as part of the Triple 7 Quest in 2017 (the other major organizer of this feat is the World Marathon Challenge)
- Running eight marathons on eight continents in 8 days, as part of the Triple 8 Quest in 2018 (with the addition of Zealandia/New Zealand)
- Finishing over 100 marathons
- Running a marathon in all 50 U.S. states
Record-setting or not, this woman loves to run. And she began running at age 48. “Being told I couldn’t do something makes me want it to it even more,” said Smith. Running is her remedy — a challenge, a passion, a path to adventure.
Runtime: 3 minutes
This film is part of Garmin’s Women of Adventure series. The series is all about sharing stories of women who have overcome great obstacles, accomplished amazing things, or who simply aren’t bound by convention. Meet all the Women of Adventure here.
