'Marathon Man' Completes Yearlong Quest

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MELISSA BLOCK, host:

Now to an athletic accomplishment guaranteed to make us all feel like complete slouches. This past weekend, 49-year-old Stefaan Engels of Belgium completed his 365th marathon - in 365 consecutive days. That's right: He ran a marathon a day for an entire year; 9,569 miles. Engels, who's called - not surprisingly -the Marathon Man, joins me by Skype from Brussels.

Stefaan Engels, I guess I should say congratulations. But Im also thinking you're kind of crazy.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. STEFAAN ENGELS (World Record Marathoner): Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, America that you called me. No, Im not crazy, of course not. You need - is a big project. You need a good strategy before you starting with this project. I have a team behind me, so it's one of my biggest challenges I do in my life. Of course, it was a really big experiment. Is it possible, can running somebody everyday a marathon - is an experiment for the mind or more also for the body, so towards my challenge.

BLOCK: Well, let's explain this just a little bit. There were 20 official marathons. The other 345 were measured as a marathon distance. Is that right?

Mr. ENGELS: Yeah. Yeah. Of course, you find not everyday marathon in the world, also you must traveling. So I found a team. My main sponsor is from Spain, and they have a lot of offices in world. So I do a lot of off-shore marathons in Spain. I was in Mexico, Canada - in Montreal. I was also in New York and Brussels, and (unintelligible). So there was a mix.

Mr. Engels, I think a lot of people are just listening to this, going: Why, why would you do this?

Mr. ENGELS: Yeah, it was an experiment - medical, of also mental. Is it possible? This was, for me, a really good test. What we know now. My first feat today is after a year, go choose not every time for an easy way. And that is one of the reasons I do it. And other reason, of course, is I will inspire people. I will say, look, if I run every day marathon, dont you have no excuse to say, five kilometers run or biking or swimming is too far for me?

BLOCK: You're just trying to make us all feel lazy here, aren't you?

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ENGELS: Yeah.

(Soundbite of laughter)

BLOCK: Im betting that it must be strange for you now to wake up and have a day where you're not running a marathon.

Mr. ENGELS: That's true. That's true. I have some special feelings. I have all the time the feeling I must go. Where are my shoes? Where are my shoes? I must go out.

Today, I go to the place where Im running all the time, I have an interview with a TV station. And it was so strange, everybody running, and I stay still.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ENGELS: Normally it's different. But, of course, now I talking all the time to the journalists in the world, and most got a hold of my story. So that is what I like to do next year. I will talking of my story and say to the people: It's possible - make your goal. Go for a goal. Do something special with your life.

BLOCK: Well, Stefaan Engels, relax, and thanks for talking with us. Appreciate it.

Mr. ENGELS: Thank you. Thank you.

BLOCK: Thats Stefaan Engels, who just completed his 365th marathon in 365 days.

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