Marathon Adventures is owned and operated by Steve Hibbs. Steve and his wife have two children. When Steve isn’t at a race, he tries to spend as much time with his wife and kids as possible. Steve volunteers at his kids’ school, teaching gifted and talented reading and math programs. Steve also volunteer coaches his kids’ athletic teams, including baseball, soccer, cross country running and track & field. In addition, Steve and his son earned their black belts in Karate and served as Sensei’s at the same school at which they studied.
Steve’s founding of Marathon Adventures took a unique path. Steve studied Psychology as an undergraduate where he was a 4-year varsity letter winner in Cross Country and Track & Field. He then received his Master’s Degree in Human Resources. He began a career in Human Resources 25 years ago. At about the same time, Steve returned to Law School, where he completed his law degree and became a licensed attorney.
Rather than practice law, however, Steve continued working in Human Resources for a few fortune 500 companies, including a large manufacturer, the world’s leading electronics retailer, the world’s largest medical device company and for Northwest Airlines. It was at Northwest Airlines where his passion for travel truly exploded. Prior to working for NWA, Steve had completed 19 marathons over the previous 9 years. In his first year at NWA, Steve completed 27 marathons in 25 states and 2 different countries.
To date, Steve has completed 281 marathons in all 50 U.S. States, Washington D.C. and on the original 7 Continents (four times). Steve is the only known person to do so and the youngest to accomplish the feat. Since the announcement of Zealandia as the 8th Continent in February 2017, Steve became the first person to complete marathons on all 8 Continents – Four Times, when he completed the Auckland Marathon in October 2017, the 8th Continent Marathon in January 2018 and The Queenstown Marathon in November 2019 and The White Continent Marathon in 2023. Steve also became the 6th known person to complete Boston Marathon qualifying times in all 50 states on USATF Certified Courses, having run 191 total BQ Marathons. Steve is a 10-Time Boston Marathon finisher (1996, 2000, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2021), having qualified for all of the Boston Marathons from 1996 to 2024 (29 consecutive years). There is no other Tour Operator who has committed themselves to running marathons at a quality level for the past quarter century like Steve has.
Steve has also completed all 6 of The Abbott World Marathon Majors – Twice. Steve has completed a total of 36 Abbott World Marathon Major races. Steve is also the first known person to complete marathons in all 50 U.S. States under 4-hours four separate times. Of those 281 marathons, only 5 have been over 4 hours — two on The Great Wall of China and three in Antarctica. All the remainder have been sub-4 hours, with 50 under 3 hours. Steve has a personal marathon best of 2:31:44. Steve has also completed half-marathons on all 7 continents (three times), completing The Triple 7 Quest in 2015 & 2017.
In addition, Steve has extensive race management experience having managed road racing events since 1994. This coupled with having run so many races has helped Steve to design or choose the most runner friendly courses at each location Marathon Adventures offers. Steve created and hosts the annual White Continent 50k, Marathon & Half-Marathon and Punta Arenas 50k, Marathon & Half-Marathon. Since 2013, Steve has successfully hosted 9 editions of the annual WCM & PAM. Steve also created this event, The Triple 7 Quest. In 2015, Steve brought 35 runners around the globe to run seven marathons or half-marathons on the original seven continents with the Quest of completing those races in one week. Since then Steve has successfully operated The Triple 7 Quest since 2015. With the announcement of Zealandia as the 8th continent, in February 2017, Steve created and has successfully hosted the first Triple 8 Quest – 8 Marathons, 8 Continents, 8 Days. Since 2018, Steve offered the Triple 8 Quest, in addition to The Triple 7 Quest. Steve and the Triple 8 Quest/Triple 7 Quest groups successfully completed their Quests for the second consecutive year.
Steve has traveled the world extensively, in addition to running marathons, having traveled to over 60 countries on all eight continents. Prior to offering an Adventure, Steve ensures that he or someone on our team has run the race before, so we can provide detailed descriptions and advice from first hand knowledge. Steve is also a USA Track & Field Level 1 Certified Coach. He has over 22 years of experience of coaching athletes at the half-marathon and marathon distances. He also helped coach his daughter to the High School State Cross Country Meet from 2019-2022 (7th-10th grades) and his son in 2021 & 2022 (10th & 11th grade). He helped coach his daughter to the 2021 High School State Track Meet in both the 1600 meters and 3200 meters (as an 8th grader).
These are the traits that set Marathon Adventures apart from the competition — unparalleled focus on customer service, a quarter century of race management experience, a quarter century of dedication to quality marathon running, vast traveling and unmatched running experience.
Steve is a member of The 50 States Marathon Club, The 50 States & DC Marathon Club, The 50 Sub 4 Club, Marathon Maniacs (Platinum), Boston 50 Running Club and The Marathon Globetrotters. Steve is also the founding member of The Official 7 Continents Marathon, 1/2 Marathon & Ultra Club, The Official 8 Continents Marathon, 1/2 Marathon & Ultra Club, The Eight Continents Club & The 8 Continents Marathon Club. Steve is also the founding member of the 5 Oceans Marathon, Half-Marathon & Ultra-Marathon Club — a new organization designed to recognize runners who complete marathons, half-marathons or ultra-marathons on all 5 Oceans.