A former smoker got rid of his cigarette addiction in favor of a far more healthier venture -- running. 

  • From smoker to runner: One man's race to a marathon world record
  • Dave Jones used to smoke two packs a day
  • Jones kicked his addition for a new one - running
  • Jones is attempting the Triple Seven Quest: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days

Now Dave Jones is hoping to complete the ultimate running adventure. 

It's been several years since Jones ran away from his addiction. 

For years, Jones smoked two packs a day and had little energy. Then one weekend, he had enough. 

Jones said he threw out the cigarettes and developed a new addiction -- running marathons. 

And his new habit definitely shows. Jones' workout space is full of medals and bibs from two dozen marathons and several full Ironman races. 

After running four marathons in four states in four days last month, he's raising the bar. 

"I took DayQuil and did a marathon on terrible food poisoning that had kept me on the bathroom floor for a full 24 hours, so that was the most painful of all the marathons," Jones said. 

On Friday, he'll be flying to Australia where he'll begin running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, in a race called 'The Triple Seven Quest.' 

"I hopped the next day as soon as I knew that was even something that was out there to be done and that had never been done before, I was all in," he said. 

Jones said the time zone changes will buy him extra time to sleep, rest, and hydrate as he flies to each continent. 

For now, he is packing nutritional powder, running clothes, shoes, and trying to leave his nerves behind. 

"If I miss a connection or if I get held up in customs, or if the weather is bad and my plane can't land, I don't get to do the race and then the whole seven continents is blown," Jones said. 

He is hoping to set a world record by completing his quest.