PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jared Blank is on a mission to run seven marathons, in seven days, on seven continents.
If that doesn't seem hard enough, the 35-year-old will also be running in some harsh conditions.
“We start in Antarctica, then the next race is in Cape Town, South Africa; Perth, Australia; Dubai; Portugal; Colombia; and then finishing in Miami, Florida,” said Blank.
He quit his job and began preparing back in July. He ran three marathons in one week just to make sure his body could take it.
“I was able to endure,” he laughed.
While he has run marathons before, and loves pushing his abilities to the limit, this time around holds special meaning.
“I think my goal is to really just help change the culture around dyslexia,” Blank said.
At five years old, Blank was diagnosed with dyslexia. The learning disorder made school tough.
“What might take a typical student an hour to do, was taking me three hours to do,” recalled Blank.
Soon he discovered his love for running. It became his release.
“It was so clear to me that I could go out the door and solve a problem while running,” said Blank.
Now he has partnered up with the International Dyslexia Association to raise awareness and inspire others to think a little differently about dyslexia.
“It's not always going to be perfect. It's not always going to be grand. But it's like that ability to work through hard times and finding the good within those challenges,” Blank said.
He leaves on Wednesday and will begin the first part of his race in Antarctica on Tuesday, January 30.
He'll be running alongside about 50 other athletes.