4 Deserts Completed, But Still Dreaming Big

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Well yesterday is over and our ship is heading back to Ushuaia. The last course in Dorian Bay was absolutely spectacular. We again traversed a 2K loop but this time it was pretty much single file through knee deep snow which ultimately became som......

Antarctic: Stage 3

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Well, I am finally thawed, fed and rested with a good night sleep. Yesterday´s run was monotonous, to say the least, but I faired well. We went from nice, cold weather to hot sunny weather to extremely cold harsh winds with snow. ......

Antarctica: Stage 2

Monday, November 22, 2010

Today’s run was postponed from a 6:00 am start to 10:00 am. Weather here at this time of year is so unpredictable. Snow had fallen however there was still quite a lot of mud to navigate through. As I set off on the long part of ......

Antarctica: Stage 1

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Finally back on the boat and beginning to thaw out. Today we started late because of the weather, which made for a very long day. I woke up at 3:00 am, dressed and arranged everything to take with me. Around 3:40 am we were informed o......

Sahara Final Days

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

I am finally sitting on board the plane heading to London and saying goodbye to Cairo. Excitement is still running through me as I take a look back, not just to what was accomplished but also to the people and places that I encountered along the way.......

Sahara Stage 4 (Completed!)

Thursday, October 07, 2010

A great day for me and only one more very long day ahead. I thought the terrain was quite soothing to look at; however we ran across some very deep sand. A few climbs but coming down those dunes is so much fun. I was able to run quite......

Sahara Stage 3 (Completed!)

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Stage 3 complete but not without many challenges. This was supposed to be the most difficult day and it lived up to everything. 26 miles completely in soft sand with many more dunes than I care to remember. I was out there much longer than ......

Sahara Stage 2: Complete

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Another day checked off. I have come to the conclusion that sand is not my friend. If anyone wants me to go to the beach when I return you better find a way to push me across the sand. Todays stages were filled with either lose or sem......

Sahara: Stage 1

Monday, October 04, 2010

Well, today was not what I had anticipated. Whatever could go wrong, went wrong. To start, my pack was awkwardly stretched so everything kept shifting to the right. Every time I ran, my back was pulled so there was more walking than I......

Long Day Across The Gobi

Friday, July 02, 2010

Logged another long stage into the books. I had a fantastic day, happily finishing at 3:30 am and coming in 21st overall! To shortly recap the day: Stage one was full of water crossings full of tall grasses that I enjoyed weaving in-a......

Day 4 in the Gobi

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Completed stage 4 and had a relatively good day. We started at 3am so we could be on the buses by 4:00am. They drove us about an hour and half away to the start, down into the Turpan Basin. We began running around 6:05am and for me th......

Gobi: Day 3

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Ok, I can finally say it...I had a fantastic day. It had rained during the night, so the conditions were cool and great for running. Going through the river crossings, there were around six miles, was a blast. In some points the cur......

Gobi Desert: Day Two

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Hello everyone! Day 2 was a very interesting and beautiful day here in the Gobi. We started out again at 9:00 am with sunny blue skies. Stage 1 of our second day took us up and down some very steep hills and into some beautiful valleys.&nbs......

Gobi March: Day One

Monday, June 28, 2010

Day one complete! Once again the race was filled with surprises. We woke up, had our briefings and started at 9:00 am. During the briefing we were told that there would be no climbing and that the stages will moderate. So, off I went feeling exci......

Gobi March: Pre Race

Monday, June 28, 2010

Made it to the first camp after about a two-hour bus ride. Our driver did an exceptional job navigating through some very harowing turns. Everything came to a stop at one point as the bus ahead wasn´t quite sure if one of the turn was doabl......

Highlights from my Atacama Desert Run.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Get inspired and get involved with Run7on7 by watching highlights from my first of the 4 Deserts (the Atacama). Stay tuned as I prepare to tackle the Gobi Desert starting this Sunday (June 27)......

The Gobi Calls

Friday, June 25, 2010

I am sitting here in the lobby (the only place with access to the internet) of the Yin Du Hotel in Urumqi. I’m beginning to feel the excitement, nervousness and trepidations of race day. Many of the competitors, some I now know well......

Final Days In The Atacama Desert

Thursday, March 18, 2010

I know that it has been a while since my last blog from the Atacama. I feel that I need to explain why I seem to have fallen off the planet so quickly. The first two days of racing I was tired, exhilarated and actually having fun navigati......

Atacama: Day Two

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

I sit here today totally exhausted, but again…feeling great. This stage (26-miles) was extremely hard and hot - but getting to the first two checkpoints was so much fun. We started out heading to checkpoint one by going through som......

Atacama: Day One

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Woke this morning excited to begin the 1st stage. I will bring you up to speed on most of the day; however, a big part of it I am still processing in my mind. This stage proved to be extremely difficult and very, very hot. In the be......

Atacama: Pre Race

Monday, March 08, 2010

We have arrived safely at Camp 1. The bus ride here was so amazing with the most spectacular views. Not only did we pass through canyons but came upon the most luscious green areas with lamas grazing along side the water. When we arri......

Amazing San Pedro de Atacama

Saturday, March 06, 2010

I am sitting in my tiny room at the Hotel Don Tomas re-inspecting my pack while I anxiously await tomorrow’s check-in. I am so mentally ready to begin this race that tonight I am not sure if I’ll even sleep. I have been here f......

Journey To The Atacama

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

The journey begins! This weekend I sat in San Pedro de Atacama…quite a surreal feeling. The journey here proved to be a test of endurance and patience as flights into Santiago were understandably delayed, cancelled or diverted.&n......

ANSWER TO BLOG QUESTION

Friday, February 05, 2010

Great question regarding my blog "What´s your physical (as opposed to nutritional) recovery strategy?" Answer: I try to always take an ice bath after a race but if unable at the time will elevate my legs against a wall for about 10 to 1......

RUNNING INTO THE DARKNESS

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Saturday, January 30th marked yet another milestone that I would conquer in my running career. With a lot of trepidation and wondering if my body could hold up I was about to embark on a 55 mile run with a 20 lb. pack upon my back. This w......

CATCHING UP - PART II

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Next thing on my agenda was to encourage and have others sign up to “race for our Run7on7 cause). What I thought would be a difficult challenge turned out surprisingly well. Six individuals, of varying backgrounds and physical abili......

CATCHING UP - PART I

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Hello to everyone. I know it has been a long time since my last blog, in fact, about a year. So much has occurred within that time, some good, some not so good. Let me bring you up-to-date. After returning from Antarctica and ......

Antarctica - The Final Race!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Antarctica, my seventh and final continent was met with a lot of trepidation and some fear of the unknown. I had read a lot of accounts from those who had gone before me which further confirmed many comments as to the absurdity of such an endea......

Linda Completes Her Seventh Worldwide Marathon in Under a Year!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

This is the Run7on7.com staff reporting that we´ve just received word that Linda Quirk crossed the finish line in about 6 1/2 hours. She said it was a brutal race filled with ice, mud, rocks, wind and cold but one of the most incredible exp......

Buenos Aires - On The Way To Antarctica

Thursday, March 05, 2009

On our way to Antarctica we were able to spend 3 days in Buenos Aires, not enough time to pay justice to this beautiful city, however we were able to touch the surface. The birthplace of the Tango, Buenos Aires is widely known for their beef, w......

Special Holiday Message from Linda Quirk

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

For those of you who have been following my journey around the globe you know my last of seven worldwide marathons is quickly approaching (March 9, 2009). As we prepare to enter a new year, filled with a united sense of hope and exciting possibil......

Racing & Gathering Friends Along the Way

Thursday, October 16, 2008

After a long 15-hour flight my feet were firmly placed on the ground of Melbourne, Australia – the home of my sixth of seven worldwide marathons. I was tired but anxious to begin exploring the city. I have to say that Melbourne is bea......

My How Far We Have Come

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

I cannot believe that the time has come for me to leave and travel to my 6th continent. The experience so far almost seems surreal as I look back before moving forward again. I am constantly asking what kind of impact, if any, has the Run......

Adventure In Iceland

Saturday, August 30, 2008

There is an ancient Icelandic saying that is quoted to show how the people have always been at the mercy of nature, “The King wants to sail but the breeze must prevail.” Natural elements play such a huge part in the lives of the Icelandic......

Part II - Lions, Cheetahs & Elephants - Oh My

Thursday, July 03, 2008

point on the entire course so I picked up the pace knowing that it would not be much longer and I would have accomplished what I had set out to do. With sheer determination and a sigh of relief I crossed the finish line of my 4th continent in 5......

Part I - Lions, Cheetahs & Elephants - Oh My

Thursday, July 03, 2008

It is Saturday morning and I’m awakened to the sound of the animals in what I hope is the distance. I promptly get out of bed, mix up the magic potion of applesauce and oats and begin the pre-race breakfast routine. We are to meet t......

Destination - Safaricom Marathon - Kenya, Africa

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Sitting on the plane I am so excited to finally be heading off to Africa with my husband, Randy. We had planned to take a photographic safari for our 10th wedding anniversary and now, almost 15 years into our marriage the dream is finally being......

Rapa Nui Marathon (Easter Island)

Monday, June 09, 2008

After 7 days split between Santiago and Easter Island we were ready to begin the Rapa Nui Marathon. My day started without an alarm clock as the island rooster who started his daily call on cue at 6:00 A.M awakened me. I was always under ......

Next Adventure - Chile

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

After a much-needed three days of recovery and sleep maintenance, I left for my next adventure (and I probably do mean adventure) race in Easter Island. As the plane took off I became very thankful that Chile is on the same time zone as the Eas......

Memories of the toughest marathon - The Great Wall Marathon

Sunday, May 18, 2008

May 17, 2008 turned out to be the most amazing, awe-inspiring, emotional day that I have ever had on a marathon course. Our day began at 4:00 A.M. as we all boarded the buses for the 3-hour trip to Ying Yang Square, the gateway and starting poi......

Trial Run on The Great Wall

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The day began with a long 2½ hour bus ride outside of Beijing. Everyone was excited to be leaving the city and I must say the scenery drastically changes, as one would expect. The countryside is greener with tiny villages spread th......

Day One - Arrival

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

From the air Beijing looks so orderly with sporadic blue roofs juxtaposed to terra cotta colored ones. It is actually a beautiful sight to see. My 12-hour flight was uneventful, as I believe I slept about 6 hours of it. Once on the ......

Leaving For China

Monday, May 12, 2008

The day has finally arrived, I’m actually going to China! I was up at 4:00 A.M. to catch my flight from home to Chicago and then the connecting flight direct to Bejing. Didn’t sleep much last night in anticipation but that is ......

Reflections of Boston

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Boston, such an exciting and interesting town, was transformed that weekend with millions of spectators as well as athletes roaming the historical town. I went through the expo and the atmosphere electrified as we picked up our packets and the......

On My Way

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Well, I´m sitting at the Nashville Airport on a layover waiting to head to Boston. It still seems so surreal! This week has been a challenging one personally but now it is time to get my head in the game and focus. I know that o......

4 Weeks and Counting

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I can’t believe that I’m only 4 weeks away from beginning my quest to run 7 marathons on 7 continents. Who would have thought this dream, formulated in my head over one year ago, would finally come to fruition. I have always ......

Boston Fast Approaching

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Boston is fast approaching and I am really excited. My training is going well but still working on nutrition aspects....

Running Boston Race

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

I will be running in the Boston Marathon (also known as "Boston´s Race to Remember"). This race honors Massachusetts Law Enforcement Officers who have been killed in the line of duty. It also benefits kids at risk. I´ve been to Bo......