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Not long ago, women were banned from running marathons, deemed too "fragile" for the distance. Fast forward nearly 60 years, and along comes Hilde Dosogne with a “hold my beer” resolution: In 2024, the 55-year-old shattered expectations and limits by running a marathon every single day of the year, 366 in total, proving that strength, resilience, and determination know no bounds.
Hilde didn’t just chase records; she made history. She submitted her achievement to the Guinness World Records, aiming to become the first woman to accomplish this incredible challenge. Along the way, she raised over €65,000 (more than $67,000) for breast cancer research, a cause close to her heart.
But what inspired her to wake up every day and tackle 26.2 miles, no matter the weather, her physical state, or life’s demands?
A Drive to Test Limits
After completing he Marathon des Sables and the Spartathlon, a grueling 153-mile race in Greece, she wondered: "What’s next? How far can I push myself?"
Her answer was a year of daily marathons, a test of her physical and mental limits. “Running has been a constant in my life,” she told me. “I wanted to do something extraordinary, something that would truly test my strength, resilience, and determination.”
She described the mental challenge of starting every day at the marathon start line as the toughest part. But it was the support of her family, friends, and followers (and the knowledge she was running for a cause) that kept her going.
The Daily Grind of a Marathoner
Balancing marathons with life wasn’t easy. Hilde worked part-time and cared for her family of five, squeezing in naps during lunch breaks and striving for 8 hours of sleep at night, though stress and excitement often made that difficult.
Her fueling routine was carefully honed:
- Breakfast: Pancakes with protein powder
- During the marathon: Five energy gels
- Recovery: A warm bath, a recovery shake, and a hearty pasta meal
Still, there were setbacks. She got sick, caught COVID, and even dislocated her finger and hurt her knee during a run, yet she always returned to finish the marathon. “There were moments I wanted to quit, but knowing I was doing this for charity and having so much support kept me going,” she said.
Lessons Learned
When I asked what she’d do differently, Hilde said she wouldn’t combine the challenge with work and would have preferred running in the mornings, her most productive time of day. Even though the afternoons worked around her job, the shift left her feeling too tired.
Her biggest takeaway? The mind is stronger than the body. “I found my physical limit at 366 marathons. I couldn’t go further than that,” she admitted.
What’s Next for Hilde?
After taking some well-earned rest and recovering from a minor hamstring injury, Hilde is setting her sights on another Spartathlon, the race that first inspired her extraordinary journey.
Her story is a testament to what we can achieve when we dare to dream big, embrace challenges, and lean on the power of community.
She reminds us that our limits are often far beyond what we imagine, and that with determination and support, we can achieve the extraordinary.
Stay strong and keep running!
-Carleth
If you have your own inspiring running journey to share, post it on Instagram with #CarlethsRunnerStories and tag me @carlethkeys
