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Date: 4/11/2023
BELCHERTOWN — BJ Williams is a Belchertown resident who competed in the World Marathon Challenge in January.
The World Marathon Challenge includes running seven marathons on seven different continents in seven days. There were approximately 50 competitors in this year’s event between the full and half marathon along with the 10K race and Williams said he was excited to take part.
“It was incredible,” Williams said. “It was eye-opening. The race director before we took off told us to be ready to not be in control of anything. It was an amazing experience. We had delays, we had flight issues, travel issues but we were able to complete it.”
The marathon starts in Antarctica and once completed, they fly by charter plane to every marathon location around the globe.
The complete global route is Novo in Antarctica, Cape Town, South Africa, Perth, Australia, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Madrid, Spain, Fortaleza, Brazil and Miami.
Although the marathon participants did not have a chance to sight see each continent they were on, Williams said the director does a good job of setting up the race in a great spot.
Williams added, “Every place we ran was picturesque. You can take in what was around you. You could see the ocean and take in different things. It was nice to be there to experience.”
Participants run 183 miles over the seven-day period and spend about 68 hours in the air, including a trip on a Russian war plane.
Williams said, “The craziest part was Antarctica. Thinking back, like, holy crap we flew to Antarctica on a Russian military jet to run a marathon. Getting off the airplane and [seeing] Antarctica felt in a way like I was on the moon.”
Between all the races and the travel, it left little time for the participants to sleep or eat.
“It was a lot of running with no sleep and calorie deficiency. Before you get digest your food you are out running so you are burning everything off in the first six miles. I lost 18 pounds from over the seven day race. It was incredible,” Williams said.
Williams said that his favorite part was getting to meet all the participants. He added that after the seven days that everyone felt like a family.
“Everybody who was doing this had some sort of craziness to them. Being able to meet these individuals and hearing their paths and what they do for running or why they are doing this was incredible. Knowing no matter what we were all going to be with each other for the next seven days and all of us was going to finish no matter what it took,” Williams said.
Williams added that he is not a huge fan of running but is doing it for a good cause which gives him the extra strength to complete the challenge.
“I don’t run because I want to. I don’t really like running and I think it is hard as hell and doesn’t get any easier, but I do it because it is a challenge for me. I can’t get complacent and it doesn’t get easier. I like the struggle and the battle with it,” Willaims added.
Williams experienced a car crash that almost took his life in 2005 and left him with multiple skull fractures, skins grafts, loss of taste and damage to his hearing.
Williams said he was having a tough time emotionally and physically but started running after being inspired by an HBO special on the Team Hoyt story.
The next morning after watching the special, Williams was signed up for his first marathon.
Dick and Rick Hoyt were a father and son duo that have competed in 32 Boston Marathons, seven Ironman triathlons, and ran and biked from California to Boston. They were also recently inducted into the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame.
Rick was born with cerebral palsy and told his dad Rick, “Dad when I run in these races with you it feels like my disabilities disappear.”
Williams said, “I met with Dick Hoyt a little over three years ago to discuss the World Marathon Challenge. I wanted to do something to honor the Hoyt’s for them inspiring me and inspiring millions of people around the world. With that it was to take on the World Marathon Challenge and raising them and their foundation along with 11 Team Hoyt chapters around American $100,000.”
Williams overall average pace was five hours and 31 minutes but he was more focused on raising money for the Team Hoyt foundation.
He has currently raised around $68,000.
Williams said, “I don’t have a timeline when I am going to be done. I have hosted road races in the past and other events. I may host another event to raise money. Right now I am taking a step back because you can’t ask people to donate three years straight.”
Williams has a page set up at tinyurl.com/4xrk7ec8 for Team Hoyt.
Williams is a detective at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and his schedule caused him to be training after his shift was over around midnight.
He usually works 3-11 p.m. but added if he had to work a double on a day he was going to train, he would work from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and go on run at midnight to around 3 a.m. the next day.
“It was three years that changed my life in so many good ways of really enjoying the time I was with my family and the time I was around them and the time that I am not, really devoting that time to running. Practicing and learning to separate the importance of things in life was great,” Williams added.
Right now, Williams said he is looking forward to enjoying time with his family after a rigorous training process.