Employee Spotlight: Halef Gunawan

Halef Gunawan (landscape designer, blogger, travel advice counselor, and human clock) has finally returned from his most ambitious running expedition yet, claiming a few accolades along the way. (We waited until he returned to post this news to make sure that he actually survived...to our delight, he has.)

On Monday, March 18th, 2019, Halef completed his 18th marathon on...wait for it...ANTARCTICA! That's right, the one at the bottom of the map; the continent that tested Ernest Shackleton; the one with no bears! In doing so, he also completed a quest to finish a marathon on each continent. He is now an official member of the Seven Continents Club, an accomplishment that he shares with only 756 other people...ever! He is officially recognized as the first Indonesian to have completed seven marathons on seven continents.

Halef claims to be retiring from marathons, but that decision is pending additional research as to Zealandia's claim as an 8th continent. Keep your shoes laced, Halef.

Halef is a graduate of Iowa State University and joined NBA’s Landscape Architecture group in 2016. Be sure to check out Halef and his partner’s travel vlog series, theRTWguys, and read more about Halef’s trip in an article from the Iowa State University Alumni Association.

Let's give it up for our globe trotter!

Halef’s seven continents medals (from left to right): 2006 Marine Corps Marathon (North America), 2007 Blackmores Sydney Marathon (Australia), 2012 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon (Asia), 2013 Sparkasse Bodensee Marathon (Europe), 2015 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon (Africa), 2016 Rapa Nui Marathon (South America), 2019 Antarctica Marathon (Antarctica)