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GHENT, Belgium — On the final day of 2024, Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne finally completed her monumental challenge of running a marathon every single day of the year.
Though visibly tired, she radiated an aura of achievement as she crossed the finish line amidst cheers from fellow runners, marking her extraordinary accomplishment.
“I’m relieved it’s over,” Dosogne expressed after finishing her last run, which was marked by a minor mishap when she collided with a spectator.
In addition to the immense personal satisfaction of having run over 15,444 kilometers in one year, the 55-year-old also successfully raised approximately 60,000 euros (around $62,438) for breast cancer research.
The next step involves submitting her GPS data, photos, videos, and independent witness accounts, which are all necessary to satisfy the Guinness World Records regulations.
If her submission is approved, she could officially claim the record in about three months, joining Hugo Farias from Brazil, who holds the men’s record of continuous marathon running for 366 days, achieved in São Paulo on August 28, 2023.
In terms of women’s achievements, Dosogne would stand unmatched, as the current record held by Erchana Murray-Bartlett from Australia is 150 days, set on January 16, 2023.
Despite her groundbreaking accomplishment, Dosogne doesn’t wish for her journey to be viewed solely as an emblem of healthy living but rather as a testament to her determination.
Throughout the year, she faced numerous challenges, including battling flu, COVID-19, more than a dozen falls, blisters, and even bursitis, but mental resilience proved to be her greatest hurdle.
“The mental strain is harder than the physical,” she admitted. “Physically, you need to be fit to run for four hours every day, but the mental game to be at the start line every day is what wore me down the most.”
Dosogne predominantly ran her daily marathons on a flat loop around a waterway near the university town of Ghent, where she contended with strong headwinds that often felt like her fiercest adversary.
To ensure she met the Guinness distance requirements, she opted to run 42.5 kilometers (26.4 miles) each day instead of the standard 42.195 kilometers (26.2 miles), minimizing any risks of discrepancy.
As a bio-engineer at a chemical firm, she structured her days to squeeze in an afternoon marathon after an early start.
Since she couldn’t maintain a high speed every day, she averaged an easy pace of 10 kph (6.2 mph), allowing her friends and witnesses to accompany her along the route.
The one moment of concern for her daughter Lucie came after Hilde had a mishap while running 27 kilometers, resulting in a dislocated finger and an emergency room visit that prevented her from completing that marathon within the designated time.
Nevertheless, she showed remarkable determination and “started from scratch again,” according to Lucie.
“It’s still a little bit crooked,” Dosogne remarked about her injured finger, reflecting both her resilience and the physical toll of her extraordinary year.
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