Thursday, October 1, 2026
79 ° Clear
79 ° Clear
As summer begins, many residents of Yardley are planning vacations, relaxing weekends and trips down the shore. But for Morgan Leh, June marks the start of something far more demanding — preparation for one of the most grueling endurance events in the world.
The longtime Yardley resident is training to compete in the Great World Race, an extraordinary test of endurance where she will run seven full marathons (26.2 miles each) in seven days across all seven continents this November. The race comes just months after Leh achieved a milestone that takes many runners a lifetime, completing the prestigious Six Star Journey by finishing all six of the world’s major marathons.
Leh, who has lived in Yardley for nearly 30 years, is a graduate of Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland. She currently works as a physician assistant in both academic and clinical settings.
Leh’s introduction to running began close to home. She grew up watching both her parents compete in marathons. In high school, she ran track primarily to stay in shape for field hockey, but in college, she began to take the sport more seriously.
“I had a little bit more time, so that’s when I really started running more,” she said.
Her inspiration to pursue marathons, however, came from a pivotal moment in 2013: the Boston Marathon bombing.
“I remember being in calculus class when we heard about the Boston Marathon bombing, and it was devastating,” Leh recalled. “But what really stayed with me was watching how the entire world came together afterward. Seeing that sense of unity and how the running community supported each other through something so tragic — that’s what made me want to be a part of the sport.”
Later that year, she ran her first marathon, the Philadelphia Marathon, practically in her backyard.
“I had a beautiful sunny day for this race,” she said. “I remember seeing my dad near the finish line, and he was like, ‘You got it. You’re going to do it.’ That was a really special moment for me.”
As a result of her finish time at the Philadelphia Marathon, she qualified for the Boston Marathon by just one minute.
Leh went on to run the Boston Marathon in 2015, beginning a journey that would ultimately span more than a decade.
That journey culminated this past March, when Leh completed the Tokyo Marathon, her sixth and final race in the Abbott World Marathon Majors series.
The Six Star Journey requires runners to complete six of the most renowned marathons in the world: Boston, New York City, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo. Entry into these races is highly competitive, often requiring qualifying times or selection through lotteries.
“To do all six is like the mecca for a runner,” Leh said. “It’s really elite status.”
For Leh, completing the series was the result of more than 12 years of dedication.
“That journey took me about 12 and a half years,” she said. “Finishing Tokyo on March 1 was the sixth of my six races, so I earned the Six Star medal. It was a huge moment.”
Despite the magnitude of the achievement, Leh didn’t linger long in celebration. By April, she had already completed another Boston Marathon, capping off a stretch of back-to-back training cycles that began in mid-2025.
Now, with June underway, her focus has shifted entirely. Much of Leh’s preparation takes place right here in the Yardley and Lower Makefield area.
“I run all over Yardley,” she said. “Down to the canal, by McCaffrey’s, toward Oxford Valley Road, over by Shady Brook Farm. We’re really fortunate to have so many great places to run.”
She also trains with the Bucks County Roadrunners, who frequently run at Tyler Park.
“Tyler Park is very hilly, so it’s a great workout,” Leh explained. “You can run for miles and not worry about traffic.”
She also participates in weekly races and early morning group runs, often starting as early as 4:30 a.m. during the summer months.
“The majority of the people I train with are guys, and they’re faster than me,” she said. “But that pushes me and makes me better.”
While Leh has become comfortable training for a single marathon, preparing for seven in one week presents an entirely new challenge.
“I’ve never trained for seven within seven days,” she said. “I’m trying to adjust my entire lifestyle so I can stay healthy, maintain nutrition and sleep, and still work full-time.”
Despite the daunting nature of the race, Leh is embracing the challenge.
“If not now, then when?” she said, reciting her philosophy.
During the Great World Race, often referred to simply as “777”, Leh will begin in Antarctica before traveling to Cape Town, South Africa; Perth, Australia; Singapore; Portugal; Cartagena, Colombia; and finally Miami.
Participants travel in a chartered plane, spending only hours in each location.
“You’re literally in a country for maybe nine hours,” Leh said. “You run the marathon, eat, maybe get a massage, and then you’re back on the plane to the next place.”
The event, organized by Ice Cap Adventures, includes a small field of about 50 to 60 runners, along with medical staff and support teams.
Unlike major marathons, the Great World Race is not about qualifying times or elite status. Participants come from a wide range of backgrounds, united by a desire to test their limits.
“People do this because they want to challenge themselves,” Leh said. “I’m excited to hear everyone’s story.”
For Leh, running is about far more than competition. It has shaped her physically, mentally and emotionally.
“I feel better now in my early 30s than I did in my mid-20s,” she said. “The physical benefits are endless.”
But it’s the mental impact that stands out most.
“It’s made me want to be the best version of myself in everything,” she said. “As a daughter, a sister, a professor, a clinician, it translates to every part of my life.”
Running has also provided stability during difficult times.
“It’s always there,” Leh said. “You can go out and run a mile or 20 miles. It fits into anyone’s life, however they need it.”
Leh attributes much of her success to her parents and sister, noting, “I am so grateful for the support they have given me over the years, encouraging me every step of the way on my marathon adventures.”
As Leh embarks on months of preparation this summer, her focus remains firmly on the road ahead.
“To be able to say I accomplished something that seems almost untouchable, even to me, that’s what drives me,” she said.
And while the Great World Race may be one of the toughest challenges she will ever face, Leh isn’t ruling out future goals.
“For now, I’m focused on the 777,” she said with a laugh. “After that, I’ll probably need to sleep for three months, and then figure out what’s next.”
