Tom Denniss Is Here To Make You Feel Lazy (And/Or Normal)

I am convinced there are certain people put on Earth solely for the purpose of making us feel lazy. Tom Denniss is just such a person.

Maybe you've run a marathon before -- That is a very great accomplishment! A very, very small percentage of the world's population even attempts a marathon each year, let alone finishes it. And maybe others have made it your 2012 New Year's resolution to run a marathon this year. That is also very great!

But now here comes Tom "I Love Vowels" Denniss, ready to run all over your accomplishments, dreams and goals. Denniss, an Australian (shocker), is planning to run 700 marathons. In 700 days. Yep.

His journey will take him to every continent, except Antarctica, and more than 20 countries, but one location was a must for his itinerary - Monument Valley in the US where Gump ended his run.

Oh, right -- Denniss' inspiration is Forrest Gump.

"I don't know if people will join me like they joined him," Mr Denniss, 50, said of the large group of runners who followed Gump in the film.

"I'm looking forward to running on the rim of the Grand Canyon, across the Andes Mountains and across the Nullarbor desert.

"I'm also looking forward to running in the Arctic Circle when it's daylight for 24 hours a day."

Running roughly 700 marathons in 700 days -- a total of 18,340 miles in just a little under two years -- would take him around the world (literally) and would set the Guinness World Record for "Fastest Circumnavigation of the Earth on Foot."

Denniss began his journey on Dec. 31, 2011, from the Sydney Opera House, and plans to finish at the same iconic location. You can follow his progress at his website, www.tomsnextstep.com, and on his Twitter feed, @tomsnextstep.