Skipper completes marathons in 7 continents
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Appling native Nathan Skipper loved running and playing recreational football and basketball. Born to parents George and Joyce Skipper, Nathan graduated from Georgia Southern University and moved to Atlanta. He now resides in Ellenwood with his wife, Wilma, and two sons, Dezmond and Joshua.
In 1996, Nathan began to experience pain in his right knee and decided to see a specialist. An arthroscopic surgery removed several bone particles and revealed a complete tear of his ACL. He was given two options: undergo another surgery to repair the ACL or stop running to prevent further damage. The orthopedic surgeon suggested low-impact sports like golf, but Nathan had his mind set on his goal of running a marathon.
Now, Skipper has completed marathons in all 50 states and each of the 7 continents, amounting to a total of 1,493.4 combined miles. His journey through the U.S. has been documented in his book “I Run Because He Said I Couldn’t,” which can be purchased from Amazon.
He and his wife, Wilma, began their international journey in the birthplace of the marathon–Greece–through a company called Globus. After battling a meniscus and arthritic injury about a month prior, he reached the finish line in the Olympic Panathenaic Stadium. This included a trip to the original Olympic track,
Skipper ran two marathons in 2022, in Luxor, Egypt, and Singapore City. He arrived in Cairo in January and booked a hotel overlooking the Nile River. At the year’s end, a layover took them through Seoul, South Korea, before the first of two races in Singapore–a 5K.
In September 2023, Nathan and Wilma traveled to Sydney, Australia, and ventured to Katoomba on a Blue Mountain Scenic Tour. The trip also included a ferry ride, and trip to the Taronga Zoo, Daintree Rainforest, and Sydney Opera House. One Aboriginal boy in Kuranda was spotted playing the didgeridoo.
Despite a few medical setbacks, he traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last year. Landmarks included Christ the Redeemer and Copacabana Beach.
Now in 2025, Skipper completed his goal with a 30th Anniversary marathon in Antarctica. The course on King George Island has marked gravel roads that connect the scientific research bases of Uruguay, Chile, China, and Russia. Great care is taken to leave behind zero impact on the sensitive ecosystem, and runners were expected to be self-sufficient throughout the hilly terrain and unpredictable weather.
More details can be found on the blog https://leighjosia.com/
