Dave McGillivray Triumphant in World Marathon Challenge – 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Days

McGillivray, renowned race director of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, arriving home to Boston later today

BOSTON (February 6, 2018) – Renowned Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray conquered the World Marathon Challenge last night in Miami, completing seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. He arrives back in Boston on American Airlines flight 1553 scheduled to arrive at 5:37 p.m. ET today.

McGillivray, 63, a Medford, Mass., native who now lives in North Andover, Mass., was the second oldest competitor in the challenge.

In an interview prior to the challenge, he said, “It’s important for me to set a goal, achieve it – getting it done and feeling good about myself…Why scale Mount Everest? Why run across the country? People want to be challenged. Some people, like myself, need to be challenged.”

The B.A.A. Boston Marathon race director and owner of DMSE Sports, McGillivray ran on behalf of Team MR8 to raise money for the Martin Richard Foundation, created in memory of the 8-year-old victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, as a member of Team Hold the Plane, assembled by David Samson, former President of the Miami Marlins.

In addition to directing major road races, McGillivray is known for his feats of endurance to raise money for worthy causes. He ran from Medford, Oregon to Medford, Mass., in 1978 and has also ran up the East Coast of the U.S. and completed the Boston Marathon while blindfolded.

The World Marathon Challenge presented another challenge as McGillivray is just four years removed from being diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Through diet, lifestyle changes and a re-commitment for fitness, he has since reduced the coronary disease by almost 50 percent.

The clock started on Jan. 30 in the Antarctic Circle when the athletes ran a marathon on mainland Antarctica. The final marathon took place yesterday in Miami. The competitors flew by charter plane to each marathon location.

In chronological order, McGillivray’s locations and times were:

• Novo, Antarctica (4:50)
• Cape Town, South Africa (4:34)
• Perth, Australia (4:28)
• Dubai, UAE (4:29)
• Lisbon, Portugal (4:42)
• Cartagena, Columbia (4:46)
• Miami, Florida (4:34).

He and the other successful competitors ran a total of 183 miles (295 km) over the seven-day period and spent about 48 hours in the air. Follow this link for more information on McGillivray's efforts at the beginning of the challenge: http://www.wolfenews.com/releases/Where-in-the-World-is-Dave-McGillivray/04114/.

McGillivray trained for the World Marathon Challenge for almost a year, averaging more than 100 miles a week during some of those weeks. He also ran four marathons and three half marathons in seven days leading up to his 45^th consecutive Boston Marathon last April, and recently ran four marathons in six weeks.

McGillivray’s sponsors for the World Marathon Challenge include David Samson and The Marlins Foundation, Hoka One One, Implus, LLC, Yaktrax, Swiftwick, Compressport, Ultima, Whirlaway Sports Center, Hyland, Under Armour, Off Season Sports Therapy and Oakley.

In addition to serving as the technical and race director of the famed Boston Marathon for 30 years, McGillivray also completed his 45th consecutive Boston Marathon last year.

As the owner and president of DMSE, Inc., known as DMSE Sports, McGillivray and his company have become a leader in the sports management field with over 75 staff and consultants locally and across the country. The firm manages more than 30 running events and races a year throughout the U.S. – from Maine to California.

McGillivray is also known as an inspirational speaker who gives talks to schoolchildren and a variety of groups throughout the country. He just published a children’s picture book called “Dream Big”, based on his 2006 autobiography, “The Last Pick”.

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Images
Top: Dave McGillivray on the marathon course in Miami
2nd: Dave McGillivray in Miami, the final check mark
3rd: Dave McGillivray on the course in Cartagena, Columbia
Below: Hold the Plane team photo in Miami, mission completed

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