By Becca Pizzi
Basically, I love to run! I run six days a week, no matter what the New England weather brings my way. I ran my first race with my dad when I was just six years old and never stopped! Running is my passion and has taken me all around the world. Some of my favorite groups to run with are the Belmont Track Club, the John Hancock Marathon Team, and the Boston Bulldogs Running Club.
In 2015, I read about the World Marathon Challenge, a race consisting of seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. I’ve always been drawn to endurance and strength races, so I felt like I was born to run this race. For one whole year straight, I ran 70 to 100 miles per week and did CrossFit, yoga, personal training, and TB12. Not finishing this race was not an option for me. I studied the courses and learned where I would be running. I went to Canada in January to train for Antarctica. My motto in training was, “Get comfortable being uncomfortable, and you will make it!” I had a shot at making history; an American female had never run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Could I make history?
Antarctica’s Union Glacier Camp
From the icy glacier in Antarctica to the hot desert climates in Africa, I was pushed to my limits and... I did it! It was an incredible journey. My confidence was tested in Dubai when I suffered a torn groin. The pain was constant, and I was injured pretty badly. I remembered a refrain Tom Brady shared during the playoffs, “I didn’t come this far to only come this far.” I finished that sixth marathon in Dubai and had one left to run (Australia). Crossing the finish line with my parents live on Skype was something I will remember forever. We cried.
“In this journey, I learned to be brave and take chances.”
Upon returning home, I threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park, I was in a commercial, I made it into the Guinness Book of World Records, I have an ice cream flavor named after me (Becca 7), and Becca Pizzi Day is February 4th in my hometown! In this journey, I learned to be brave and take chances.
I motivational talk all over the world, from Kindergarten to the corporate world. I love to inspire children, so I wrote a children’s book Becca’s Feat on Feet, and my dad titled it! I just completed my 17th consecutive Boston Marathon, and my current goal is to finish running a marathon in all fifty states and run across America!
Becca’s Feat on Feet children’s book
My biggest piece of advice to you is dream big, take chances, and believe in yourself because when you do... ANYTHING is possible.
About the Author
Becca Pizzi is 40 years old and lives in Belmont, Massachusetts, with her husband Joe, and 12 year old daughter Taylor. She graduated from Belmont High School in 1998. Having been the first American female to run the World Marathon Challenge in 2016, seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, Becca went back and made history by rerunning it and breaking the World Record; six days, seven hours, and 58 minutes. Her current goal is to complete a marathon in all 50 states. She attributes her success to her family and the community who have inspired her and supported her dreams. She is most passionate about directing the Becca Pizzi 5K race in Belmont and the Becca Pizzi Foundation, and Becca loves seeing her community come together to support high school athletes.
