Running a marathon a day, a Belgian has a world record within her grasp

GHENT, Belgium (AP) — Finally coming to a halt on Tuesday — the last day of 2024 — Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne felt she had done all to take the world record as 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, grey light to cross the line as a throng of fellow runners celebrated an extraordinary feat.

“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 GPS data, photo and video evidence and independent witness reports 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 São Paulo, Brazil, on Aug. 28, 2023.

In the female category, Dosogne would be in a league all her own, since the current record by Erchana Murray-Bartlett of Australia stands at 150 days since Jan. 16, 2023.

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-19, 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 The Associated Press.

Dosogne was able to do the majority of her marathons on a flat loop around a stretch of water, just outside the university town of Ghent, where a strong headwind could be her toughest competitor.

Even there, she said, she would not take any statistical risks and instead of the 42.195 kilometers (26.2 miles) a day, she made sure her run stood at 42.5 km — just for safe measure with the Guinness administrators.

Dosogne wishes she could have stretched her days the same way.

As a bio-engineer at a chemical firm, she starts especially 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 10 kph (6.2 mph), which also allowed friends and witnesses to run along.

The only time when her daughter Lucie felt she might not make it was the day she crashed after 27 kilometers, had to be taken to the emergency ward with a dislocated finger, and spent far too much time there to be allowed to finish the marathon by the regulation. The solution? “She started from scratch again,” said Lucie.

“It's still a little bit crooked,” said Dosogne.

Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne, center, is cheered on as she crosses the finish line during her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne, center, is interviewed after crossing the finish line of her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne, center, runs with the pack during her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne, center, runs during her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne runs with the pack during her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne, center, is cheered on as she crosses the finish line during her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne, center, hugs her daughter Lucie after crossing the finish line of her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne, center, blows out candles on a cake after crossing the finish line of her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian ultra runner Hilde Dosogne, center, is cheered on as she crosses the finish line during her 366th consecutive marathon in Ghent, Belgium, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana's season could be over because of a hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old Frenchman, who missed the entire 2023-24 campaign after ACL surgery, hasn't played since Dec. 1 when he was substituted out of the 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

Blues manager Enzo Maresca said Friday that Fofana's injury was worse than initially feared and that the center back will be out “for a very long time." There was no immediate plan for surgery.

“He could be out for the season,” Maresca said. “We don’t know exactly if for the entire season, but unfortunately he could be out for part of the season."

Fofana became one of the most expensive defenders in soccer history when he joined Chelsea in the summer of 2022 from Leicester for a fee of 75 million pounds ($93 million).

“For sure, for us Wes is a huge loss,” Maresca said.

Fofana made only 15 Premier League appearances in 2022-23.

“I don’t think this kind of injury can be compared to the rest," Maresca said. "This one is muscle and I think that previously he never had any muscle problems, so it’s a completely different kind of injury. It’s a bit unlucky, but he will be back and he will be back good in the way he was before he was injured.”

Chelsea is fourth in the Premier League standings, 10 points behind leader Liverpool. The Blues play at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Chelsea's Wesley Fofana looks on during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Chelsea at King Power stadium in Leicester, England, Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)