An athlete from Navarra has successfully completed a challenging endeavor. Verdeliss, who is passionate about athletics, participated in the World Challenge, which involved finishing seven marathons in seven consecutive days in different parts of the world. This feat was not only a significant physical and mental challenge but also a logistical one.
In the final test, which took place in Miami, Estefanía Unzu, 39, crossed the finish line in second position. Shortly after, the organization informed her that she had set a world record, as no woman had previously completed seven consecutive marathons in such a short time. Verdeliss was overwhelmed, saying, “I can’t believe it.”
Verdeliss won six out of the seven marathons she participated in, although she did not achieve a perfect score. However, she was still able to proclaim herself a champion of the challenge, having completed seven marathons in seven days across different parts of the world.
Verdeliss reflected on her experience, stating, “Today has been hard, and my greatest victory is having faced this test. I could not stop vomiting; it was not about my legs or head, but about pushing myself and my heart. It was also for my family and all the people supporting me, to show that we set our own limits.”
Achieving greatness after adversity
It is worth noting that Verdeliss returned to competitions in 2023 after giving birth to her eighth child. The challenge she undertook, which cost around 45,000 euros and included charter flights and logistics support, began in Antarctica with a 4.2-kilometer icy circuit in extreme conditions. She then proceeded to participate in marathons in Cape Town (Africa), Perth (Oceania), Dubai (Asia), Madrid (Europe), Fortaleza (South America), and finally, Miami (North America). This challenge also aimed to raise funds for research into the Menke-Hennekam syndrome, a rare disease that affects a small number of people worldwide.
A seasoned athlete
Unzu is the current record holder for the 100-kilometer road race. She also completed the challenge of running twelve marathons in a year, one for each month, in Tokyo last March.
