Posted: July 18, 2007

Athletics: First Black Runner Finishes Seven Marathons on Seven Continents

Global Trail Blazer Heads Up National Black Marathoners’ Association BOSTON (July 17, 2007) – Tony Reed, the executive director and co-founder of the National Black Marathoners’ Association (NBMA), has become the first Black runner to finish a marathon on all seven continents, announced Marathon Tours and Travel, a travel agency for marathon runners and organizer of the Seven Continents Club. The Dallas-area runner has completed 26.2-mile jaunts in locales as far as flung the Great Wall of China, as icy as Antarctica and as precarious as an African game park. A finisher of over 87 marathons, Reed wrapped up his seven-on-seven goal at the Safaricom Lewa Marathon in Kenya on June 23, 2007. “Tony’s spirit of adventure and love of the sport of running will no doubt motivate and inspire others in his community to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Thom Gilligan, founder of Marathon Tours and Travel and its Seven Continents Club, a travel club for runners that offers special recognition for members who have completed seven marathons or seven half marathons on all seven continents. Reed’s international finishes include: the Cowtown Marathon (Ft. Worth, TX); Tailwinds Marathon (Copenhagen, Denmark); Gold Coast Marathon (Australia); Great Wall of China Marathon; Antarctic Marathon; Fin Del Mundo Marathon (Ushuaia, Argentina) and the Safaricom Lewa Marathon in Kenya. Reed, who grew up in a St. Louis housing project, co-founded the National Black Marathoners’ Association in 2004. The non-profit organization’s mission is to encourage Black Americans to pursue a healthy lifestyle through running and to raise awareness of the health risks that are more prevalent among Blacks. The 500-member organization also awards college scholarships to high school distance runners. “I was diagnosed with increased glucose levels but have been able to avoid full-blown diabetes by maintaining a healthy diet and by exercising,” said Reed, who has a family history of the disease. “I also want to set an example and inspire other Blacks to set and reach goals,” said Reed, a speaker, an information technology consultant, and CPA who holds two masters and two bachelors degrees. The NBMA estimates that African Americans only make up one to two percent of all US marathoners. "Midway up a long curving the hill, my eyes began to tear up," said Reed as he reflected on his African continental finale. "As I looked in front and behind me, I saw a long stream of Black runners. In 25 years of running 86 marathons and 150 races, I had never seen this many Blacks in a distance race. Unforgettable.” For more information on Marathon Tours and Travel and the Seven Continents Club, please visit www.marathontours.com or call (617) 242-7845. For more information on the NBMA, visit www.BlackMarathoners.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest