Asthma sufferer on track to finish 365 marathons in as many days

LONDON - Unlike most of us for whom running a marathon is seemingly impossible, a man from Belgium is running not one but 365 marathons in as many days.

Asthma sufferer Stefaan Engels may be an unlikely candidate for such an epic record-breaking mission.

But he has already completed 238 marathons in cities all over the world and is on course to meet his target by February 2011.

Now in London for a week, Engels has to tackle Britain’s blustery and rainy weather as he follows his 26mile route around Battersea Park seven times.

But the former graphic designer said this was far easier compared to some of his earlier runs.

“My worst experience was in Mexico city because it was at a high altitude of 2000m so the air was thinner. It was also extremely polluted so this made it difficult to breath,” the Daily Mail quoted him as telling MailOnline.

“I also found it very hard to run in southern Spain in August, as temperatures topped 40C although luckily there was some wind,” he said.

The sports coach got an inspiration to start running after doctors told him at 24-years-old that he would never be able to do strenuous exercise due to childhood asthma.

In 2008, he earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for completing 20 ‘iron man’ triathalons in a year.

Of course running more than 9,600miles in a year takes a heavy toll on Engels’ physical well being and his body weight has dropped from 14.1st to 11.8st. But the runner shrugged off suggestions he was putting his health at risk.

“I have an excellent recuperation system and a very strong bone structure.I also have weekly blood tests and visit a doctor and osteopath once a month. All the medics say they have been amazed at my results.

“My most important concern is watching where I place my feet because if I stumble or break something then my adventure is over,” he said.

He has plans to work on a book called ‘Choosing the Difficult Path’. (ANI)