Anthony Simonetti never envisioned himself as a runner. Yet, much like a real-life embodiment of Forrest Gump, once he embarked on the journey, he found it impossible to halt.
Originally from Staten Island and now residing in Hazlet, N.J., Simonetti has conquered one of the planet’s most grueling endurance feats: completing seven marathons across seven continents in just seven days, a challenge known as the World Marathon Challenge.
“It was like participating in an extreme version of ‘The Amazing Race,'” Simonetti shared with The Post. “We’d finish a race, hop on a plane to the next destination, and start all over again. There was no time for hotels; we were constantly on the move. The only chance to rest was on the plane, but I was so energized that I barely managed four hours of sleep throughout the entire week.”
“I didn’t prepare physically at all,” he continued. “I simply decided I could do it and pushed through. I truly believe in the extraordinary power of the mind.”
At 32, Simonetti wasn’t chasing accolades or trophies. His motivation was far more noble—raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., to benefit critically ill children.
His drive stems from personal experience. As a child, he witnessed his older sister, Samantha, bravely fight against childhood cancer. Although she emerged victorious and is now 34, the ordeal had a lasting impact on him.
Simonetti, who graduated from Staten Island Tech HS in 2011 and received his undergraduate degree from Cooper Union, and 10 other runners referred to as “St. Jude Heroes,” were chosen to represent St. Jude at the 2020 Boston Marathon, raising $20,000.
But that was only the beginning for Simonetti, who earned an MBA from Harvard in 2021.
He went on to run other world major marathons for the hospital in Sydney, London, Berlin and Chicago.
When the World Marathon Challenge came calling, St. Jude proudly sponsored him once again, even sending out a an encouraging online post at the halfway point.
The challenge began in January, where Simonetti met the other runners in Cape Town, South Africa. From there, they traveled to Antarctica, where the first race of the challenge began.
After that, he and the other runners — 51 participants in all — went back to Cape Town to start the second race. From there, they participated in races in Australia, Asia, Europe, and South America before crossing the finish line for the final marathon on Feb. 5 in Miami.
Simonetti’s goal was to raise $100,000. As of now, he’s got almost $72,000. To donate, click here.
“It wasn’t easy,” he admitted, “but I have to say I was one of the few people that really enjoyed it. Each race became a dedication — not only to St. Jude, but to the people who shaped my life.”
Over the years, the determined runner has raised roughly $250,000 for St. Jude.
Next month, Simonetti plans to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania — for the children.
