Michael Messerschmidt, an Orefield Middle School eighth grade civics teacher, recently traveled to Antarctica to participate in his 31st marathon.

The marathon was sponsored by Marathon Tours and Travel, Boston, Mass., in conjunction with One Ocean Expeditions.

"I was on a waiting list for two years to go on this," Messerschmidt said. "I flew to Buenos Arias, Argentina, to meet up with the group."

He said one of the expeditions he took prior to boarding the ship for Antarctica was a three-hour flight to Ushuaia fin del Mundo, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, for a day of sightseeing.

"The marathon began at Bellingshausen Station, the Russian weather station on King George Island," Messerschmidt said. "We then ran 2.8 miles to Artigas Base, the weather station that belongs to Uruguay, then back to Bellingshausen.

"We then ran in the opposite direction to the Great Wall Station, the weather station that belongs to China."

Messerschmidt has run marathons on every continent, except Asia, and 13 states in the United States.

"My goal is to run a marathon on every continent," he said. "Once you run a marathon in every continent then you get to join the seven continent club."

Messerschmidt began running because he was trying to quit smoking and did not want to gain weight.

In 2002, his goal was to run 1,000 miles in one year.

"Every year, I increased it and I eventually got up to 1,500 miles," Messerschmidt said.

His first marathon was in Philadelphia in 2005.

"After I did it, I said I am done, never again," he said.

In 2007, he ran the Disney Marathon as well as running a marathon in Florence, Italy, over the Thanksgiving weekend.

"I qualified in Scranton at the Steamtown to be able to run the Boston Marathon in 2009 and 2010," Messerschmidt said. "Then, I got it in my head to do a triathlon in Monticello, Va."

Messerschmidt, who is 47, wants to take part in an Ironman triathlon before he turns 50.

"I did half an Ironman two years ago," he said.

Messerschmidt runs with former student Zach Moyer.

"We are so competitive and enjoy the running," he said.

In addition to running marathons, Messerschmidt swims every morning before teaching at Orefield.

A 1985 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School, Messerschmidt received his Bachelor of Science degree in education from Kutztown University in 1992 and his Master's Degree in education from Lehigh University in 2000.

Messerschmidt, who has worked for the Parkland School District since 2000, lives in Macungie.

Messerschmidt met Hein Wagner from South Africa, the first blind man to run the Antarctica marathon.

His next marathons are in Dubuque, Iowa, on June 28, and then Chattanooga, Tenn., in October.