Many professionals wake up early to go cycling or running before work. But the average marathoner has nothing on Christopher Solarz, managing director of alternative-investment consulting firm Cliffwater LLC in New York City. A holder of multiple Guinness-certified world records, Solarz is an extreme endurance runner who specializes in the planet’s most out-there, ridiculously torturous races, traveling extensively to put himself in difficult positions all over the world. Max Luxe asked Solarz some questions about what he does and why he does it.

What are the three craziest races you’ve done?

The craziest thing I did was in May 2014, the Epic 5, which is 5 Ironmans in 5 days on 5 Hawaiian islands. It started in Kauai, then Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and the Big Island. It was like “The Amazing Race.” It took me 17 hours each day to finish these races. Then, rather than get any true rest, my support crew and I had to return the rental car, pack the bike into a bike box, then fly to the next island. On the other end, I had to get the rental car, check into a new hotel, and get to the start line. I didn’t sleep in a bed for three of the nights. The whole thing was an amazing blur of logistics.

Then I ran the Antarctica marathon in February 2011, which was summer there. On that day, it was about 20 degrees in Antarctica and 10 degrees in New York City. We were 500 miles north of the South Pole, on the northern tip of Antarctica, on a research base. When I thought of the elements I’d be facing, I thought it would be ice and snow, but it was actually very muddy and windy.

The third craziest thing would be swimming around Manhattan in 2002. That one was very rewarding. I spent a lot of time training. It was the most challenging thing I’d ever done. It took me nine hours to swim the 28.5 miles.

How many races have you run?

I ran a marathon in all 50 states, all seven continents, all of the Australian states and territories, half of the European Union, and one-third of the Canadian provinces. It’s a total of 40 different countries. That’s one of the things I’m most proud of. It’s a great way to see different places. When I go to these places and I meet different people along the run or at the pasta party, I realize how like-minded everyone is and how small the world is. I love that. I feel right at home.

When did you start extreme endurance running?

I ran the Philadelphia marathon in 1996, my freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania. I ran it again in 1997, 1998, and 1999. I kind of got hooked that way. I did my first Ironman in 1999. That was the real start.

Who’s on your support crew for races?

It’s usually my wife, Bea. She’s a doctor, so that’s great. She knows me better than everyone. I call on her for all my Guinness world records, 100-mile races, everything. We ran the New York City marathon together every single year since 2005. This will be the first year we will miss doing it together, but for a good reason. I’ll run, and she’ll be eight months pregnant with our second baby then so she won’t run. We had our first baby two years ago and she hasn’t been able to train as much since then.

Why are you interested in extreme endurance sports and running?

I find so much joy in pushing myself. I haven’t yet found my limits. I believe your limit is found when you get pushed to a breaking point and say that you can no longer go on. That’s what life is about, challenging yourself, being inspired by your surroundings, finding what’s amazing about the human body. I don’t think I’m an exceptional athlete. I think anyone can do what I can do. I train twice a day usually. I’m out with my wife or my friends running. The world would be a much happier place if everyone found the same passion for extreme endurance sports and running that I do.

Aside from all this, you have a serious day job too.

We are an alternative investment consultant, advising large U.S. pension plans on their alternative investments. I specialize in global macro hedge funds, helping advise pensions on their decisions and manager selections.