Annette Fredskov
She comes from a small town in Denmark. Her name is Annette Fredskov, and last Sunday, local time, she completed a marathon fairy tale in the land of Andersen’s fairy tales. Last year, at the age of 40, she resolved to accomplish the feat of running 366 marathons (each marathon being 42.195 kilometers) in one year. Starting on July 15, 2012, and ending last Sunday, local time, she wore out 20 pairs of shoes, spent 1,824 hours, and ran a total of 15,443 kilometers—twice the length of Denmark’s coastline—to finally achieve her goal and set a world record. (Note: According to Guinness World Records, prior to Fredskov, the highest number of marathons completed in a single year was 106, also achieved by a woman.)
Fredskov set herself this seemingly impossible task based on a medical diagnosis. Last year, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (a central nervous system disease often characterized by symptoms such as numbness in the limbs, muscle stiffness, and blurred vision), and was told she would never be able to run long distances again. But she disproved the doctor’s prognosis by completing a full marathon. To this day, she has not taken any medication for multiple sclerosis, nor has she experienced any signs of a relapse. When she crossed the finish line, Fredskov found it hard to describe her feelings. “I’m so happy—it’s like a dream come true.” This incredible woman will keep running, and her story has inspired people all over the world.
Yesterday, a reporter conducted an exclusive interview with Fredskov via transcontinental phone call, lifting the veil on the mysterious life of this marathon enthusiast.
“It takes about five hours to complete one marathon”
Reporter: Marathon running is very physically demanding. Before deciding to run 366 marathons in a year, what kind of preparation did you do?
Fredskov: I didn’t do anything special. On October 31, 2010, I ran my first marathon. By July 15, 2012, when I was getting ready to run 366 marathons, I had already run 41 marathons that year. I think the most important preparation is mental and psychological. I told myself that the plan wasn’t huge—if you break it down into small parts and tackle them each day, it becomes manageable.
Reporter: So far, what’s your best marathon time? When was that?
Fredskov: My personal best is 3 hours and 36 minutes, which I achieved last spring in Copenhagen. But during the year of running 366 marathons, I ran a bit slower, finishing in around five hours. That way, I wouldn’t exhaust my energy and could still run the next day.
Reporter: During your year of running 366 marathons, did you follow the same routine every day?
Fredskov: Pretty much. My alarm goes off at 6:45 a.m., and I get up, put on my running gear, wake up the kids, prepare breakfast, and eat with them. By then, my husband is usually already at work. After breakfast, the kids ride their bikes to school, and I drive to the starting point of that day’s marathon. Most of the time, after the marathon, I meet up with friends, then spend an hour writing my blog. Sometimes I take the kids to training or go shopping. In the evening, I usually relax to prepare for the next day’s marathon.
“I get physical therapy once a week”
Reporter: How do you recover your strength after running a marathon every day?
Fredskov: Every evening, I use electrical stimulation on my leg muscle groups. Sometimes it’s even hard to lift my legs, and you might even need to use an electric iron. I get physical therapy once a week. The largest hospital in Denmark has been closely monitoring my marathon running. Once a month, I go in for checkups, including MRIs of my bones and muscles.
Reporter: You burn so much energy running marathons every day, yet you maintain a well-proportioned figure. What’s your diet like?
Fredskov: For breakfast, I eat oatmeal, yogurt, or whole wheat bread with cheese. But I don’t eat much because I have snacks while running—like bread with chocolate spread, bananas, licorice candy, and energy bars. I also drink some soda.
Reporter: Nowadays, many people who exercise to lose weight are afraid to eat dinner. Do you eat anything after running a marathon?
Fredskov: Of course I do. I even eat more ice cream than usual, and I have bananas too, about an hour before bed.
Reporter: I really want to know what motivates you to run a marathon every single day?
Fredskov: Actually, running a marathon every day wasn’t that much fun at first, but I love running. When I run, a lot of people join me and tell me how my experience has inspired them. That’s the biggest motivation for me.
Reporter: What have you gained from running marathons?
Fredskov: Because of running, I’ve become stronger and more energetic. I wasn’t born this way, but now that I’ve kept running marathons every day, I’ve seen things I never thought possible. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I haven’t taken any medication, and so far, there haven’t been any signs of a relapse.
“I’ll keep running going forward”
Reporter: If someone reads your story and wants to try running their first marathon, could you give them some advice?
Fredskov: Don’t run too fast at the beginning. Go a bit slower, and once your body adapts to the intensity, you can speed up a little. More importantly, never doubt yourself. Don’t look out the window and ask yourself if you can keep running every day once you start training. All you need to do is stick to your plan and follow through.
Reporter: After completing the amazing feat of running 366 marathons in a year, I’m curious—what’s your next challenge?
Fredskov: I haven’t set a specific goal for myself yet. I’ve just finished a year-long plan, and I think it’s time to celebrate. I love running, and I’ll keep doing it. Maybe I’ll try running longer distances, like 100 kilometers.
Reporter: Nowadays, many Chinese people are getting into running, and there are marathon events in some Chinese cities. If China invites you to a race, would you come?
Frezekov: Of course, I’d be very happy. Actually, I’ve been to China once, in Beijing last year. My husband’s brother lives there.
Reporter: Beijing has been hosting marathons in recent years. Have you seen one?
Frezekov: No, but I’ve heard about them.