Finally coming to a halt last Tuesday — the final day of 2024 — Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne felt she had done enough to take the world record and become the first woman to run a marathon every single day of the year.
Weary, but seemingly far from exhausted from the weight of relentless marathon running, Dosogne emerged from the cold, gray light to cross the line amid a throng of fellow runners all celebrating an extraordinary feat.
▲ Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne is cheered on as she crosses the finish line, completing her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, on Dec 31.AP
"I'm glad it's over," she said after crossing the line on the last day, leaving the last crash of many behind her, when she collided with a spectator during her final run.
On top of the reward for her perseverance in running at least 15,444 kilometers in a single year, the 55-year-old also raised some 60,000 euros ($62,438) in funds for breast cancer research.
Now comes the filing of the GPS data, photo and video evidence and independent witness reports that she had to collect daily to meet the requirements of the Guinness World Records organization. If approved, the record should be officially hers in about three months.
The 55-year-old would join Hugo Farias, the Brazilian who holds the male record of 366 days, which he achieved in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Aug 28, 2023.
In the female category, Dosogne would be in a league all her own, since the current record, achieved by Erchana Murray-Bartlett of Australia and posted on Jan 16, 2023, stands at 150 days.
One thing is sure: she doesn't want her feat to become a shining example of healthy living — more one of personal persistence, as she had to fight off the flu, COVID, a dozen-plus crashes, blisters and even bursitis. Overall, though, the brain took the toughest beating.
"The mental strain is harder than the physical. Of course, physically, everything has to be okay. Otherwise, you can't run for four hours every day. But, it was more mental to be there at the start line every day," she told reporters.
And, as marathon races go, Dosogne was able to do the majority of hers on a flat loop around a stretch of water, just outside the university town of Ghent, where, apart from sometimes dreary Belgian weather, a strong headwind would be her toughest competitor.
Even there, she said, she would not take any statistical risks and instead of the 42.195 kilometers a day, she made sure her run stood at 42.5 km — just for safe measure with the Guinness administrators.
▲ Dosogne (center) sets off on her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, on Dec 31. AP
Dosogne wishes she could have stretched her days the same way though.
As a bioengineer at a chemical firm, she had to start her days early so she could squeeze in a marathon every afternoon. And because she could not run at top speed every single day, she stuck to an easy (for her)10 km/h pace, which also allowed friends and witnesses to run along.
Her husband is a marathon runner, and their four kids, in their teens and twenties, are into sports too, making the single-minded obsession easier to deal with.
The only time when her daughter Lucie felt she might not make it was the day Dosogne crashed after 27 km and had to be taken to the emergency ward with a dislocated finger. She spent too much time there to be allowed to finish the marathon as per the regulations.
The solution? "She started from scratch again," said Lucie.
"It's still a little bit crooked," said Dosogne of her finger.
It is another reason she would never advise anyone to try this. "I wouldn't. Definitely not. It's not for everybody."
During Dosogne's relentless quest, she was also collecting money for the Breast International Group, an international not-for-profit organization that seeks to sponsor breast cancer research. She knows several friends and fellow runners who have had cancer, recovered or went into remission — all stories that had a big impact on her.
▲ Dosogne blows out candles on a cake after crossing the finish line of her 366th consecutive marathon on Dec 31. AP
So, now, she will take it easy for a few weeks in the new year. Not too long, though.
In September, she has the Spartathlon planned, a 246-kilometer race in Greece.
A small challenge compared to what she achieved last year.
"I don't think I will do anything more crazy than this," she said.
