Hilde Dosogne runs 366 marathons in 366 days
At 55, Hilde Dosogne is in the form of her life, and she proved it once again with an extraordinary endurance feat. On December 31, 2024, the Belgian ultrarunner completed her year-long challenge of running 42.195 km every day by crossing the finish line of her 366th marathon. She tells Marathons.com about a challenge that left her legs aching.
How do you feel after completing the challenge of running a marathon every day for a year?
It’s a mix of emotions: pride, relief and a deep sense of accomplishment. Running a marathon every day for a year wasn’t just about physical endurance. It was a mental and emotional journey. Knowing that I pushed my limits and achieved what once seemed impossible is incredibly rewarding.
What was the hardest part?
There were many difficult moments, but one of the toughest came on September 11, when I dislocated a finger after 27 km and had to go to the hospital, only to start my marathon again afterwards. Bad weather, exhaustion and balancing running with a part-time job also made things difficult. But getting through those moments made the achievement even more meaningful.
You support the BIG against breast cancer foundation. Why did you choose this cause?
BIG against breast cancer is a cause that means a great deal to me. Cancer affects so many lives, and I wanted my challenge to serve a purpose beyond simply breaking a record. If my running could raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research, it would all be worthwhile.
How did you prepare physically for such an extraordinary challenge?
I already had a solid running background, but training for this kind of endurance required a gradual build-up. I focused on consistency, injury prevention and recovery. Strength training, stretching and good nutrition were essential to keeping my body going day after day.
And mentally?
Yes, mental preparation was just as important as the physical training. I had to develop a mindset in which giving up was never an option. Visualization, focusing on small daily goals and the incredible support of my husband, friends and sponsors helped me stay strong.
How did you deal with the difficult moments?
The support of my loved ones was crucial. My husband Bruno, my friends, my medical team and my sponsors kept me motivated. I reminded myself why I was doing this: to prove what is possible and support BIG. On the hardest days, I broke the run down into smaller sections and kept moving forward, one step at a time.
“ For my final marathon, I chose the Topsporthal in Ghent, an ideal venue for sharing the effort, running surrounded by others and celebrating the achievement properly
How did you choose where to run?
I often ran in Ghent, Belgium, in practical, familiar locations, usually on 5 km loops where other runners could easily join for a few laps or leave whenever they needed to, while also making the logistics manageable. For my final marathon, I chose the Topsporthal in Ghent, an ideal venue for sharing the effort, running surrounded by others and celebrating the achievement properly.
How were your days structured?
Every day followed a precise routine: wake up, work in the morning, get ready, run, recover, sleep and repeat. I balanced my part-time job and everyday life around my marathons, making sure I had enough time to rest, eat and engage with the media.
After this world-class achievement, what’s your next challenge?
After such an intense year, I’m taking time to recover and reflect. But I’d love to run the Spartathlon for the third time.