Nikolas Toocheck

Nikolas Toocheck (born March 19, 2003) is an American marathon runner, world record holder, and philanthropist. He has run marathons on each of the seven continents and in each of the fifty United States while raising money for Operation Warm and the Seva Foundation.
== Early Life ==
Toocheck was born in southeast Pennsylvania, where he began running for fun with his father, who was training to join the United States Air Force. He ran his first 5k at the age of five and his first marathon at the age of nine.
== Marathons ==
=== Seven Continents ===
Toocheck began his quest to become the youngest person to run a marathon on all seven continents at the age of nine. In December 2012, he ran his first marathon in Lewes, Delaware, United States. In 2013, he ran in Chile, Antarctica, and Australia. In 2014, he ran a second marathon in Antarctica, as well as marathons in Zimbabwe, Switzerland, and the Republic of Georgia. After completing his seventh continent on September 6th, 2014, in Kazbegi, Georgia, Toocheck set the record as the youngest person to run a marathon on all seven continents at the age of eleven. By doing this, he broke the record held by fourteen-year-old Winter Vinecki, although this record has since been broken. He is currently the youngest person to run a marathon in Antarctica, which he did at the age of nine. He did another marathon in Antarctica the following year at the age of ten, setting an additional world record as the youngest person to run a marathon in Antarctica twice.
=== Fifty States ===
In September 2014, Toocheck began a new pursuit to become the youngest person to run a marathon in each of the fifty states and Washington, DC. Though the first of the state marathons was the Delaware marathon run for the seven continent goal, the first marathon run in pursuit of the fifty state goal was in Annandale, VA, on September 25, 2014. After just two and a half years, Toocheck completed his goal and set the new world record at fourteen with the final marathon in Springfield, VT, on May 16, 2017. In running the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC on October 30, 2016, he became the youngest person to date to finish the race. He currently holds the record as the youngest person to run a marathon on all seven continents and in each of the fifty states.
=== Charitable Efforts ===
Toocheck set a goal to raise money and awareness for the nonprofit Operation Warm through his seven continent journey. Operation Warm is a non-profit organization that provides new winter coats to underprivileged children across North America. Since its founding in 1998, Operation Warm has provided children with more than four million coats. In 2021, Operation Warm expanded its programming to provide athletic shoes and connect children to community resources. Toocheck was also the inspiration for Run Inspired, a 10k race that benefited Operation Warm. The race was held at the prestigious Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library|Winterthur Museum and Gardens, the first ever race held on the property in New Castle County, Delaware.
In conjunction with his fifty state objective, Toocheck raised money and awareness for the Seva Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money to prevent and treat blindness. Between both fundraising campaigns, Toocheck raised more than $50,000.
== Awards and Athletic Achievements ==
Philadelphia 76ers Hometown Hero
Philadelphia Flyers Community Teammate
2015 President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition|President's Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition Community Leadership Award
2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Award
2015 Jefferson Awards Foundation Globechanger
2016 TD Bank Young Heroes Award
2017 USA Track & Field National Honor Rollhttp://legacy.usatf.org/usatf/files/b6/b697dbc8-cd3e-4b6c-85bb-d298548103d2.pdf
3x USA Track & Field All Americanhttp://www.mausatf.org/newsletters/Newsletter-2015-February.pdf
On October 11th, 2021, Toocheck ran the 125th Boston Marathon (virtually), finishing with a time of 3:53:22.
Current World Records
Record 	Age
Youngest person to run a marathon in Antarctica 	9 years, 11 months, 8 days
Youngest person to run a marathon in Antarctica twice 	10 years, 10 months, 7 days
Youngest person to run a marathon in each of the fifty states 	14 years, 1 month, 28 days
Youngest person to run a marathon in each of the fifty states and DC 	14 years, 1 month, 28 days
Youngest person to run a marathon in all seven continents and each of the fifty states	14 years, 1 month, 28 days
== Media Appearances ==
According to his website, Toocheck has been featured on The Katie Couric Show, Disney|Disney's Magical Holiday Celebration, CBS This Morning, ABC News|ABC, CNN, and FOX. He has also been featured in People (magazine)|PEOPLE Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Kids, New York Daily News, Ultrarunning Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Runner's World|Runner's World, The Huffington Post, WHYY-TV|WHYY, Chadds Ford Live, The Kennett Paper, Chester County Press, Business Wire, Youth Runner and Southern Chester County News.
Category:2003 births
Category:American marathon runners
Category:World record holders 
Category:American philanthropists