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Oct 29, 9:55 AM EST
Explorers Attempt 7 Marathons in 7 Days
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Two British adventurers on Wednesday began the Australian leg of their attempt to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, starting at Sydney's landmark harbor.
Explorer Ranulph Fiennes and Mike Stroud have already completed runs in the Falkland Islands and Chile. After the Australian leg they will head to Singapore, Britain and Egypt, with the final race in the United States.
Fiennes said he and Stroud were taking on the challenge because it's "good fun." The attempt is aimed at raising money for the British Heart Foundation.
Each 26-mile run has to be completed within six hours so the pair can remain on schedule, Stroud told reporters in Sydney.
They said the biggest challenge will be staying on schedule after the London segment, which is expected to be finished Friday afternoon. They then fly to Cairo to begin the sixth run, and after finishing that race, board a flight to New York for their last marathon on Sunday.
"As it gets nearer the end it gets more worrying that a plane might be slightly late," Fiennes said.
A blizzard and aircraft troubles forced them to change the location of their first leg to the Falkland Islands from Antarctica.
Fiennes, cousin of actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes, was once described as "the world's greatest living explorer" by the Guinness Book of Records. He has led more than 30 expeditions including the first polar circumnavigation of the Earth.
On the Net:
British Heart Foundation: http://www.bhf.org.uk/
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Explorers Attempt 7 Marathons in 7 Days
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Two British adventurers on Wednesday began the Australian leg of their attempt to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, starting at Sydney's landmark harbor.
Explorer Ranulph Fiennes and Mike Stroud have already completed runs in the Falkland Islands and Chile. After the Australian leg they will head to Singapore, Britain and Egypt, with the final race in the United States.
Fiennes said he and Stroud were taking on the challenge because it's "good fun." The attempt is aimed at raising money for the British Heart Foundation.
Each 26-mile run has to be completed within six hours so the pair can remain on schedule, Stroud told reporters in Sydney.
They said the biggest challenge will be staying on schedule after the London segment, which is expected to be finished Friday afternoon. They then fly to Cairo to begin the sixth run, and after finishing that race, board a flight to New York for their last marathon on Sunday.
"As it gets nearer the end it gets more worrying that a plane might be slightly late," Fiennes said.
A blizzard and aircraft troubles forced them to change the location of their first leg to the Falkland Islands from Antarctica.
Fiennes, cousin of actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes, was once described as "the world's greatest living explorer" by the Guinness Book of Records. He has led more than 30 expeditions including the first polar circumnavigation of the Earth.
On the Net:
British Heart Foundation: http://www.bhf.org.uk/
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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