Kevin Tison put out the word on Facebook: "MISSION

ACCOMPLISHED! 7 marathons ... on 7 continents!"

There was reason to celebrate in all-caps.

By completing last Sunday's Rio de Janeiro Marathon, Tison became one of about 240 runners to complete a marathon on every continent and document it.

Rio took him 3 hours and 45 minutes, a respectable time. Finishing fast was not the plan.

"My objective was rather to really enjoy it," the 38-year-old Belmont Shore resident says. "It was by far one of the most beautiful marathons, with the rain forest on one side and the ocean on the other. It was just spectacular."

Tison, the vocal music director at Fountain Valley High School and a professional musician, can also sing about his enjoyment of marathons.

His first was in 2002 on Catalina.

"It became addictive," Tison says.

In addition to North and South America, Tison has run marathons in Europe (Athens, Greece, 2003); Africa (Killamanjaro, 2005); Asia (Great Wall of China, 2007); Australia (Gold Coast, 2007); and Antarctica (King George Island, 2008).

He never set out to run on seven continents, but says "between my love of fitness and the sport of marathoning, and my love of travel, it sort of materialized from there."

Antarctica and China were the toughest.

In Antarctica, the weather was in the 20s, without the wind chill, and runners competed

"I'll be honest," he says, "I fell a couple of times."

The Great Wall challenged him with steep topography.

No race was easy.

"They are all challenging in their own regard," he says. "Some deal with the terrain, some deal with the climate, some deal with the technicality of the race."

Belmont Shore community activist Justin Rudd, an avid runner, says that his friend Tison has accomplished quite a feat - with his feet.

"I think it's pretty amazing for anyone to complete a full marathon or for anyone to visit another continent in their lifetime," Rudd says. "Any one of those achievements are huge accomplishments.

"But, for someone to train, gather funds, juggle work and home life to be able to get to seven continents and then run a marathon on each (is) amazing. And, he's only 38."

Tison, a Southern transplant, trains daily. He runs about 20 to 30 miles a week, does yoga and resistance training at the gym, and bikes. He will go days, sometimes even a week, without running, but he always exercises.

His next race is a half-triathlon, the "Vineman,"July 19 in Sonoma County. He plans to swim 1.2 miles in the Russian River and bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles in the wine country.

Tison's best marathon time, logged in San Jose, is 3 hours and 22 minutes.

He has placed in his age group in some of the foot races, but is not a ranked or professional runner.

"I don't run in a competitive way against other athletes," he says. "I mostly just compete with myself."

john.canalis@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1273