Truly amazing (and frightening)

Published 9:13 pm Thursday, February 2, 2017

Here’s something to wrap your mind around: While you were considering last week whether to download that couch-to-5K app on your smartphone, Lisa Davis was running a marathon.

In Antarctica.

And it was her seventh. In seven days. On all seven continents.

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You read that right: Seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.

From the 103-degree heat index of Singapore to wind and cold so bitter on King George Island in Antarctica that it made her cry, Davis experienced a little bit of everything the world could throw at a long-distance runner.

She ran on concrete in Punta Arenas, Chile, and she ran on boulders on King George’s Island. And in between each of the different marathon stops, she and the other eight people on this amazing and (to some of us) terrible journey ran through one airport terminal after another.

They had a tight schedule to keep in order to finish the challenge in seven days, and Davis, a Marine major, is thought to have finished more quickly — by 22 hours — than any other woman who has completed the challenge. What an accomplishment!

We’re not suggesting that anybody out there drop the plans for the 5K fun run and make reservations instead for the Triple 7 challenge. In fact, to be honest, we can’t decide whether we’re more amazed or frightened that there are people in the world whose bodies are able to take the abuse such a challenge presents.

We are certainly impressed with the tenacity and the commitment it took Davis to complete this challenge. And we are dead sure that we’re not going to challenge her in some feat of endurance. Frankly, we’re ready for a nap just from the effort of downloading the app that’s supposed to get us ready for that 5K fun run.

Congratulations, Lisa Davis. You are truly amazing.