In capturing marathoner’s quest, SC Featured producer has world travel adventure

(L-R) Kris Schwartz, cameraman Bill Roach, Jeremy Schaap and Ted Jackson in London in front of Parliament. (Kris Schwartz/ESPN)

Kris Schwartz (l) and Ted Jackson after Jackson finished the last marathon in Sydney, Australia. (Kris Schwartz/ESPN)

Ted Jackson is not the person who would be expected to take on the challenge of competing in seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.

But in the name of raising money to help his wife and others with multiple sclerosis, he did, and his story will be the subject of Sunday’s SportsCenter SC Featured.

After visiting with Jackson in England before the housemaster headed to Antarctica to start the marathons, Kris Schwartz, who produced the story for the ESPN Features Unit, joined Jackson in Miami, the third leg of the event, and traveled from there to Madrid, Morocco, Dubai and Sydney.

“I expected it to be tiring and expected to just get some naps on planes,” said Schwartz, who has been with ESPN for 17 years. “But I’d never complain about how tiring the travel was. Those competitors who ran 26.2 miles in each place would never let me live that down if they read it.”

Most of the days involved quick showers and not much proper rest or eating.

“It wasn’t until we were in Australia where we actually sat down and we finally were able to eat at a table,” he said. “You’re just eating on airplanes the whole time. There was a two-hour nap here and there on a plane.”

Schwartz, alone with a camera at three of the five stops, shot video of Jackson, sometimes using a bike to get around. He had never been to any of the destinations.

“In Morocco, it was five in the morning and it was maybe 30 degrees out, and we were in a little hut,” he said. “There was a kerosene lamp, and four people, all of them from Morocco, none spoke English, and I’m just trying to keep warm and they offered me soup.

“I’m drinking the soup, waiting for Ted to get back,” he said. “It’s dark, that was the point that you realize you’re on the other side of the world.”

Jeremy Schaap, the reporter on the SC Featured segment, has written a companion piece for ESPN.com that will debut Sunday. Feature producer Michael O’Connor helped Schwartz with part of the production.

“Ted makes it an enjoyable experience and also at the same time he makes it an inspirational experience because of why he’s doing it,” Schwartz said. “I’m appreciative to have these opportunities to be able to go to these places and meet these people who inspire you to be a better person.”