Most marathons run in different countries in one year
Wojciech Machnik, marathon runner, adventurer and traveller from Katowice, Poland. A man who can’t stand still and is constantly on the lookout for new challenges and inspiration. As a result of his passion for travelling and running, he created a lifestyle project called 249challenge.com. His lifetime goal is to run a marathon in every country in the world.
The quest kicked off with a bang. Between the 9th of December 2018 and the 7h of December 2019 he completed 66 official marathons in 66 different countries (sovereign states) and as of today he holds the World Record in category “Most marathons run in different countries in one year.”
He was extremely fortunate to be able to complete his worldwide challenge since soon after his Word Record hunt was complete, the coronavirus pandemic began and international travel was seriously restricted.
With over 400,000km travelled and 100+ countries visited, Wojciech was forced to return to Poland. Upon arrival he was subject to a 14-day quarantine. After almost 20 months of constant travel and running he was stuck in a 3x4m room with no option to leave.
At the end of his quarantine he finished a full marathon around his bed on a 7.5 meter lap. It took him 8 hours and 47 minutes and it was the inspiration to do something even more crazy — to set another official World Record. The attempt took place a few weeks later in Katowice on May, the 3rd 2020. Wojciech set a new world record in the category called “The Shortest Lap Marathon” by running the marathon distance (42.195m) on the shortest lap ever run. He ran 8440 times around a five-metre lap and in 13 hours and 54 seconds. The “Covid-19 Marathon Challenge” was planned to raise funds towards fighting COVID-19. All contributions were spent on disinfectants for social care homes and hospices to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
The event took place according to social distancing rules. The race was recorded in full, an official timing company was in charge of lap counting with the judges and TV reporters present throughout the attempt.
Knowing Wojciech’s ambitions, this is not the end of his monumental efforts. We are already curious which World Record category he will conquer next.
