You' ve probably heard of athletes who try for new running records like running on seven continents in seven days.
And you may even recall when a few years ago when ultra runner Dean Karnazes ran fifty marathons in fifty U.S. states in fifty consecutive days.
Now a 65-year-old Japanese man is set to break that record (if and when) he completes the Tokyo marathon this Sunday.
According to Australia ABC.net.au:
"Every day for the past seven weeks he' s run exactly 42.2 kilometers,
around and around this park, completing the official distance for a
marathon.
' I don' t know if I will live for another 15 or 20
years,' says Akinori Kasuda. ' I want to do my best every day for the
rest of my life, so I decided to take on this world record,' he says.
Through heavy rain and even snow, Akinori Kasuda has battled on, determined to run 52 marathons in 52 days.
A
university long distance champion, he quit running in his early 30s,
only taking it up again in his early 60s. And that' s what makes this
feat so remarkable. Akinori Kasuda is 65 years of age.
But this grueling challenge has taken its toll.
' I' m feeling some pain in my legs,' he says. ' I don' t want to complain but it' s getting quite sharp.'
By the time he has finished Kasuda will have clocked up 2,200 kilometers.
And fittingly, his final run on Sunday will be the famous
Tokyo marathon.
And you may even recall when a few years ago when ultra runner Dean Karnazes ran fifty marathons in fifty U.S. states in fifty consecutive days.
Now a 65-year-old Japanese man is set to break that record (if and when) he completes the Tokyo marathon this Sunday.
According to Australia ABC.net.au:
"Every day for the past seven weeks he' s run exactly 42.2 kilometers, around and around this park, completing the official distance for a marathon.
' I don' t know if I will live for another 15 or 20 years,' says Akinori Kasuda. ' I want to do my best every day for the rest of my life, so I decided to take on this world record,' he says.
Through heavy rain and even snow, Akinori Kasuda has battled on, determined to run 52 marathons in 52 days.
A university long distance champion, he quit running in his early 30s, only taking it up again in his early 60s. And that' s what makes this feat so remarkable. Akinori Kasuda is 65 years of age.
But this grueling challenge has taken its toll.
' I' m feeling some pain in my legs,' he says. ' I don' t want to complain but it' s getting quite sharp.'
By the time he has finished Kasuda will have clocked up 2,200 kilometers.
And fittingly, his final run on Sunday will be the famous Tokyo marathon.