Semper Fi.
Always.
To the ends of the earth, if necessary.
And, in this case, it truly is for Lt. Col. William Conner.
The 40-year-old Marine stationed at Camp Smith is scheduled to compete in next month’s Antarctica Marathon, "scheduled" being the appropriate word. His plans to knock that off his bucket list last year didn’t just hit a snag, they hit an iceberg.
Just as Conner was walking out the door for his flight to Argentina, he received notice that the Akademik Ioffe, the ship that was to transport the runners from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica, had been damaged by an iceberg. An alternative itinerary was offered, but Conner was unable to go due to an assignment to the Philippines.
It was more than an individual disappointment for Conner in his quest to join the elite Seven Continents Club, whose members have finished a marathon on all seven continents. He felt that he was letting down all those who had donated to his Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund webpage to raise awareness and funds for Marines and other service members recovering from catastrophic injuries incurred in combat and training.
"It’s such an important cause that, when I found out I wasn’t going, it was not a happy day," said the 1995 U.S. Naval Academy graduate. "But things work out in other ways.
"I then had this incredible opportunity to go to the Iwo Jima Reunion instead. Iwo Jima … it’s sacred ground to the Marines … I was there with 13 veterans. It was incredible."
So, too, has been Conner’s global athletic journey, a sometimes serendipitous ride that now includes the "Support Through Sport" Semper Fi Fund.
Conner was a national champion rower at the Naval Academy. His first marathon was the 1995 Marine Corps Marathon, run through Washington, D.C., and it came with an ulterior motive.
"The only reason I did it was to qualify for the 100th Boston Marathon," said Conner, whose time of 2 hours, 56 minutes — still a personal best — did just that.
He’s gone on to finish 20 marathons and ultra marathons, and three Ironman races, including the 2008 world championship in Kailua-Kona. He also was part of the field of a very special marathon in the fall of 2010: the 2,500th anniversary of the original course from Marathon to Athens.
"I did this during my two weeks R&R (rest and relaxation) that all Marines get when they were deployed to Afghanistan for a year," said Conner, who was deployed to Iraq for five of the previous six years before Afghanistan.
When stationed in Hawaii in 2012, he gravitated to the state sport — outrigger canoe paddling — and competed in the last two Molokai Hoe races across the Kaiwi Channel, first with Kailua Canoe Club and then with Honolulu Pearl.
BEING IN HAWAII also has allowed the Tulsa, Okla., native perfect conditions to train for the Antarctica Marathon. This weekend, he again headed to Mauna Kea (13,796 feet elevation) on the Big Island for high-altitude training and sub-freezing temperatures.
"It’s the best opportunity to train if you’re in Hawaii," he said. "It was in the 30s on the summit (last month), some snow. It helps with acclimatization the best I can. We’re expecting 22 degrees below for the marathon.
"Mother Nature will play a part, so I’m praying for good weather down there. They’re offering excisions on land, kayaking with the whales and we’ll get to see penguins."
Conner’s fundraising goal initially was $17,750 in honor of the USMC’s founding in 1775. It was doubled to $35,500 and, as of this weekend, he was at $32,990, thanks in part to matching funds by GoDaddy.com.
The more money, the better, given the cost of adaptive equipment and home renovation for recovering members of the military. A bathroom modification can run around $25,000; wheelchair ramps, $10,000; and hand controls to drive a vehicle, $2,000.
He has since made another revision.
"My main goal now is to reach 239 individual donors in honor of the 239th anniversary of the USMC founding," he said.
Conner has 154 donors so far. Those who donate a minimum of $5 will receive his race report and pictures after he returns from Antarctica.
The "White Continent" feat would mark his fourth continent. Africa, Australia and South America remain. He would like to accomplish that before leaving the military, which could be as early next year.
"I try to live life to the fullest," Conner said. "I’ve been very blessed.
"When I do retire, I want to take a year off, travel, see countries on my bucket list — Vietnam. India. There’s still lots to do."
Conner already has done quite a bit educationally, adding to his B.S. in economics with an MBA and several other master’s degrees.
BUT HE CAN NEVER DO enough for his country or the Corps. This weekend’s itinerary included the funeral of a Pearl Harbor survivor on the Big Island.
It’s a reminder of the sacrifice made when serving America. It’s one that Conner is reminded of when he thinks of a USNA classmate and teammate on the Midshipmen’s crew team.
He rowed with Lt. Cdr. Erik Kristensen (USNA ’95), a member of the SEAL 10 team whose bravery during an ill-fated mission in 2005 in Afghanistan was most recently documented in the film "Lone Survivor."
Much drives Conner to complete a goal.
Antarctica Marathon?
Two words.
Semper Fi.
Always.
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To donate, go to: stayclassy.org/SemperFiMarathonAcrossAntarctica.
