GHENT, Belgium — Hilde Dosogne, a determined 55-year-old ultrarunner, crossed the finish line on the last day of 2024, completing her audacious goal of running a marathon every single day throughout the year. This remarkable achievement will position her as the first woman to attain this milestone if her record is officially validated by Guinness World Records. Over the course of the year, Dosogne covered a staggering 15,444 kilometers (9,596 miles) and raised approximately 60,000 euros (about $62,438) for breast cancer research.

Emerging from the dreary weather on her final day, she expressed relief, stating, “I’m glad it’s over,” reflecting on the journey filled with physical challenges and mental struggles. Throughout the year, Dosogne faced adversities such as the flu, COVID-19, injuries from over a dozen crashes, and various physical ailments including blisters and bursitis. However, she emphasized that the mental strain was far more challenging than the physical toll of running daily.

“The mental strain is harder than the physical,” Dosogne remarked. “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 shared with Al Jazeera.

Most of her marathons took place on a flat loop near Ghent, although she had to contend with gusty winds and cold temperatures. To meet Guinness requirements, Dosogne ensured her distance was slightly above the marathon standard, consistently running 42.5 kilometers (26.4 miles) per day for added safety. Balancing her job as a bio-engineer with her rigorous training, she started her mornings early to complete her daily marathon.

While her daughter Lucie witnessed her mother’s struggles, including a significant incident where she crashed after running 27 kilometers, resulting in a dislocated finger, the family remained supportive. “She started from scratch again,” Lucie noted about her mother’s resolve after the mishap.

Diligently collecting evidence, including GPS data and personal accounts from witnesses, will be crucial for Dosogne as she files her records for verification. If she secures approval within three months, she will join the ranks of Hugo Farias, the Brazilian who achieved the male record of running for 366 consecutive days, documented in São Paulo.

In the female category, Dosogne's feat will be unparalleled, as the current record is held at 150 days by Australian Erchana Murray-Bartlett. Reflecting on her journey, Dosogne expresses hope that her accomplishments will inspire perseverance rather than merely a healthy lifestyle. “I don’t think I will do anything more crazy than this,” she concluded, hinting at her next ambitious endeavor: the Spartathlon, a grueling 246-kilometer race in Greece next September.

With such relentless determination, Hilde Dosogne has indeed embodied the spirit of endurance and philanthropy in her extraordinary marathon challenge.