The "really emotional" challenge was the "toughest yet," according to an army veteran who ran seven marathons on seven continents in the span of seven days.
Running marathons in Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza, and Miami is Salisbury, Wiltshire resident Sally Orange.
She raised over £10,000 for charities that support mental health during the challenge.
Ms. Orange said she also hoped to raise awareness while dressing up as fruits and vegetables to "make people smile.".
The 48-year-old ran 183 miles (295 km) in 168 hours with 68 of those hours spent in the air, which was her only opportunity to sleep. She is the first female veteran and fifth British woman to complete the World Marathon Challenge.
The final three marathons had to be completed in just 36 hours while contending with rapid temperature changes and jet lag.
Ms. Orange also contracted a stomach bug while she was in Madrid. .
"I cried starting at mile eight with such severe stomach pain, which made it harder because crying had caused me to become more dehydrated.
"It was like a mental health emotional journey; I'd tell people I was struggling, but they'd go on because some people don't know what to do. ".
She explained that it was critical for her to be open and transparent about her struggles, "so they know they're not the only ones.".
"Though there are many beautiful things in the world and on websites like Instagram, life isn't like that. You're only evaluating yourself in terms of the shop's exterior, not its interior or back, the speaker continued.
Ms. Orange suffered a stress fracture in her foot in the months prior to the challenge, which she described as "difficult and daunting," but she added that "someone told me I was lucky to have it now and not two weeks before, and it just reminded me what it's like for others.".
She claimed that while running the Dubai marathon in 35 degree heat, her only thought was to "run to two lampposts, walk one lamppost.".
I just thought that there would be some people who would love to walk this and it was about reframing my mind, while I was feeling awful, she said.
Since I knew it was such a privilege, I don't think I grumbled once during the entire challenge. ".
She ran her 80th marathon overall and her final one in Miami.
Before taking on her next challenge—running a marathon in the North Pole—she said she was now looking forward to getting over her jet lag.
