BALTIMORE — Dave Lang is scheduled to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days in January as part of the World Marathon Challenge. Lang, the Baltimore Ravens' senior director of digital strategy and innovation, aims to raise at least $100,000 for the Brigance Brigade Foundation in support of ALS research and care.

Lang will be part of the 10th class of participants in the World Marathon Challenge, joining 292 people who have completed the grueling event since its inception. The challenge spans 168 hours total, with participants given eight hours to finish each marathon. Lang plans to complete each leg in under five hours. The itinerary includes races in Antarctica, Cape Town in Africa, Perth in Australia, Dubai in the U.A.E., Madrid in Spain, Fortaleza in Brazil, and Miami in North America.

Lang, who will turn 43 before the event, described his relationship with running as pragmatic rather than passionate. I can't even say that I love running. Running was something I did more just to stay in shape. I just feel like I'm a regular guy who likes doing hard things and challenging myself, he said.

He recalled his initial reaction to learning about the World Marathon Challenge: "When I first heard of somebody doing it, I questioned, is that even humanly possible? That sounds insane. No way. I kind of put it out of my mind." Lang has completed two marathons prior to the challenge—the Baltimore Marathon in 2012 and the Marine Corps Marathon 50K in 2022—and finished fourth in the Baltimoron-a-Thon last October.

Lang won the Brigance Brigade 5.7K in May and registered for the World Marathon Challenge the day after his victory. He has since raised enough money to cover the costs of his participation and is now focused on surpassing his $100,000 fundraising goal for the Brigance Brigade Foundation, which provides access to caregiving services, equipment, and in-home accessibility for people living with ALS. Donations can be made at 777forALS.com.

Lang’s effort is deeply tied to his workplace connection with O.J. Brigance, a former Baltimore Ravens linebacker diagnosed with ALS on May 16, 2007. Lang was hired by the Ravens shortly after Brigance’s diagnosis. Watching O.J. over the years, he's been such an inspiration—the living-breathing example of 'All Things Possible,' Lang said. "What he goes through on a daily basis just to come to work here in this building, if he can just do that and get through his day, I feel like running seven marathons is easier than what he does." Lang added that Brigance supported his plan without hesitation: "He was not one of the people that said 'this is crazy' or 'can you do this?' He had full confidence and belief in me."

To prepare, Lang plans to run over 20 miles on the day the Ravens depart for their late-September game in Fortaleza, Brazil—a location also on the World Marathon Challenge route—to simulate race conditions. His motivation extends beyond personal achievement. "I want to just show that ordinary people are capable of achieving extraordinary things," he said.