Princeton Woman Runs 7 Marathons On 7 Continents In 7 Days

PRINCETON, NJ — Keri Mandell is always looking to challenge herself and she certainly did when she took on the World Marathon Challenge. The Princeton woman ran seven marathons on seven different continents in seven days earlier this month.

That is equal to running just over 183 miles. Mandell joined just under 1,000 people in the world to complete this incredible feat.

"I did it! I f---ing did it!" Mandell said as she crossed the finish line at her final marathon in Miami, Florida. "I was so excited I worked so hard. The other runners nicknamed me on trip 'The Grinder' because I would grind through anything — weather, pain. If I want it I go after it and get it and don't stop until I get it."

Mandell, who owns Empower Yoga near The College of New Jersey, has always been a fitness junky but this was definitely an experience she will never forget.

Mandell of Princeton started running seven years ago when she moved to Princeton from Boston, Massachusetts.

She completed her first marathon in 2014 in Philadelphia and got the running bug. She continued to challenge herself and signed up in 2018 for her first Ironman, which is long-distance triathlon consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile marathon run.

Then she came across the World Marathon Challenge and decided to run it while raising money for her charity the American Cancer Society.

"I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and I knew this would be uncomfortable," Mandell said.

She embraced the challenge and the charity as she had lost her dad and stepmom to cancer.

Mandell's epic journey took off on Jan. 6 in Antarctica where the temperature was -10 degrees with 40 mph wind gusts.

"Antarctica took four people out because the weather was so bad," Mandell said. "There were no fuel stations, everything was being blown around and I had to wear layers, special leggings, a wind shield. Some runners worked together and linked arm to arm to protect themselves from the wind."

She then took went on to Cape Town in South Africa, Perth in Australia, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Madrid in Spain, Fortaleza in Brazil and Miami to close it out.

Dubai was also difficult for Mandell as the temperature was 70 degrees but there was also 100 percent humidity.

"In Dubai we had to run loops, running up and down the boardwalk 15 times," Mandell said.

As Mandell completed each race she incorporated her Yogi-side by posing in Scorpion at the finish line.

"Nothing can really ever prepare you for that," Mandell said of completing the race. "Physically running is not the hardest part. There are just not enough hours in the day to recover and to replenish the calories we burned. There was lots of fatigue towards the end."

Despite the challenge, Mandell loved her experience.

"It was pretty epic and to be part of such a small population of the world to complete it," Mandell said.

Looking ahead Mandell will continue to teach at her yoga studio and already is signed up for another Ironman race in August in Canada.

"I am going to continue racing and see what the future holds," Mandell said.

For more information on Mandell and Empower Yoga visit empoweryoganj.com or facebook.com/empoweryoganj or call 609-403-6769. To donate to Mandell's charity click here.

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