Who runs the world?

Nelson woman Tanya McMurtrie has run on the Great Wall of China, New York’s First Avenue and past the Eiffel Tower - next stop, sub-zero temperatures in Antarctica.

McMurtrie has a long-term goal of running a marathon in every continent and she’s only a few off completion.

Ten years ago, McMurtrie ditched aerobics instructing and put on her runners.

‘‘I put a pair of gym shoes on, I went outside and I ran for 15 minutes one day and that’s how it started.’’

She trained for more than a year before taking part in her first half marathon. A couple of years later at 38-years-old she ‘‘plucked up the courage’’ to go the full hog.

A marathon is 42.2 kilometres, the equivalent of running from Tahunanui to Motueka.

McMurtrie’s first marathon wasn’t easy. She did a gruelling off-road run in Tarawera near Rotorua with her friend which was ‘‘beautiful’’, ‘‘scenic’’ and ‘‘very tough’’.

She said there was a steep hill 2km before the finish line.

‘‘You think going up is hard but then you get to the top ... and your legs are shot. Coming down hill is far worse than going up.

‘‘We ran over the finish line and we were so elated to get our medals. We looked at each other and we said I’m never doing that again.’’

Fifteen minutes later the pair were planning their next event.

‘‘The mind is very good at blocking out the pain.’’

Her next marathon was in the Big Apple in 2013 amongst 50,000 participants.

‘‘As far as the eye can see, it’s a sea of runners and all you can see are people.’’

It was estimated there were one million spectators lining the route.

‘‘When you run off the Brooklyn Bridge you hear this hum.’’

It was people cheering.

‘‘They want to high five you, they’re yelling at you, they’re telling you how amazing you are - you can’t bottle that.’’

The same vibe echoed at her following marathon in China in 2016.

‘‘You’re in quite a remote area so the ... marathon is quite a big event for locals. Everybody comes out and supports it. You’re running along in the local villages and grandparents, mum, dad and kids are all in their Sunday best sitting outside their house watching.’’

McMurtrie runs with her phone, stopping only for a ‘‘split second’’ to get photos along the way.

The hilly, hot course in China forces competitors to meet a prerequisite to enter.

‘‘You’ve got to complete a marathon in a certain time.’’

Less than 2000 runners hit the wall in 2016. In 2017, she was back to running amongst thousands.

The Paris marathon saw 56,000 dash down the streets past many of the capital’s popular landmarks.

North America, Asia, Europe and Australasia are all ticked off the continent list and Antarctica has been locked in.

‘‘I’m booked.‘‘

McMurtrie said she had friends who did it last year so she knew what to expect.

Attire would include a beanie, gloves, merino and ‘‘polyprop-type clothing’’.

Running in cool temperatures was important for training, she said.

‘‘My friends ... trained in a cool store.’’

Marathons may seem crazy to some but the insanity of it doesn’t escape McMurtrie.

‘‘When you’re running, you’re thinking ... why on earth have I done this to myself again. Then you run over the finish line, you get your medal and all of a sudden you just have this feeling of euphoria.’’