In the year 2023, Hugo Farias set a world record by completing 366 consecutive marathons. This is equivalent to running more than 42 kilometers (26 miles) every day, that too for a whole year. Without missing a single day. Be it rain, sun, illness or injury. During his extraordinary effort, 45-year-old Brazilian businessman Hugo participated in a medical study. In which it was seen what effect such a big effort would have on his heart.
During this time he completed 15,000 kilometers of running in 12 months. He said, “I was not a big athlete. I had run only one marathon in my life.” “But the desire to write a new story and make an impact through sport kept growing inside me.”
Passion to take a different path
He quit his job for this challenge. In fact, his growing dissatisfaction with his daily life was responsible for this decision. Hugo told BBC News Brazil, “There came a time when I stopped and thought, was I born only for this? Do I have to keep repeating this routine for 35 or 40 years?” He says, “We learn from childhood to choose a career before the age of 18. Find stability, start a family and prepare for retirement.” “But I felt that I could do something more than this. I could inspire people in a different way.”
Contribution made to science
He was inspired by Brazilian sailor Emir Klink, who crossed the South Atlantic by boat in 1984. “But I thought I’d run instead of rowing,” Hugo said. Hugo wanted to make a mark, so he sought out a challenge that no one had faced before.
He discovered that Belgian athlete Stephan Engels had already run 365 marathons in a year. Hugo decided he would run one more marathon a day. For eight months, Hugo created a meticulous plan that involved logistics, training and the support of many professionals. “I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I formed a team of people with different knowledge, doctors, sports experts like coaches and physiotherapists and psychologists,” he said.
“I left a good job for something completely uncertain. Obviously, this creates anxiety and insecurity,” he said. So the independent thinking of a professional helped me to lighten the load and stay focused.”
One of the institutions Hugo invited to participate was the heart institute Incor in Sao Paulo.
“I asked them if they would cooperate so that a study could be done to see how my heart reacted to this challenge. Would it grow or shrink in size? Would it have heart-related problems or any other changes? I really wanted to contribute to science as well,” Hugo said. Cardiologist and researcher Maria Janiera Alves was involved in this study project. She said, “It could have a profound effect on the heart.” The scientists set limits for Hugo. For this, the exercise was based on its volume rather than intensity. So that he could complete this challenge “without cardiac risk”.
Hugo underwent ergospirometry (a diagnostic procedure that evaluates a person’s breathing and metabolism during exercise) every month and an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) every three months. “The purpose was to monitor the heart’s adaptations, both at the macro level and the micro level, and to see if there were any abnormalities, positive changes or negative responses to physical training,” said Dr. Alves.
‘Safe Zone’
Hugo completed this challenge on 28 August 2023. He took about 1,590 hours to cover a total distance of 15,569 kilometers (9,674 miles). And for this amazing achievement, his name was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Hugo, a father of two children, used to run every morning so that he could spend time with his family for the rest of the day. He could relax the body and focus on muscle-strengthening exercises.
He almost always ran on the same route. In the city of Americana in Sao Paulo State. This study was published in the scientific journal – Archivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia. In this study, it was concluded that despite so much and continuous exercise, there was no damage to the heart muscles. Whatever heart-related changes were observed were physiologically favorable to them. That is, natural and healthy. These were not signs of any disease. Dr Alves said, “This research clearly shows that if the intensity of exercise is moderate, the heart can be adapted to greater athletic stress.”
Sports cardiologist Filippo Savioli, who was not part of this study, told the BBC, “This study strengthens the idea that the heart of a trained athlete can withstand a lot of stress. Provided it is within the safe intensity range and adequate rest is given between each session.”
He said, “Hugo ran at a moderate intensity. In which his average heart rate was 140 bpm (beats per minute), which is about 70 to 80 percent of the maximum heart rate estimated according to his age. This kept him in a safe range, where the body can maintain a balance between oxygen use and energy production.” According to Dr Savioli, “Running in this range reduces the risk of damage to the heart, such as inflammation or rhythm disturbances. Even if exercise is done for a long time every day.”
He also said that if Hugo had tried to complete this challenge with high intensity exercise, it could have caused harm. He warned that doing this without training or medical supervision can be dangerous. He said, “There is a lot of risk in this. Without preparation, there is a possibility of serious injuries such as heart failure, swelling or even sudden death.”
‘Learn to trust your abilities’
For Hugo, the results of this study were a pleasant surprise. He said, “I achieved a fitness that I had never imagined. It was very important for me to see that it did not have any negative effects.” But this challenge was not without risks. “I endured everything: cold, heat, rain, traffic, injuries,” he says. Hugo suffered three bouts of diarrhea, the most severe of which lasted five days. “I lost four kilograms. I had to rebalance my diet and water intake. But we didn’t stop,” he says.
Around his 120th marathon, Hugo developed plantar fasciitis, a condition in which the soles of his feet swell and hurt, a common problem for long-distance runners. Then, around his 140th marathon, he developed pubalgia, also known as a sports hernia, an injury to the groin that affects the muscles and tendons of the lower abdomen and inner thigh.
Hugo has written a book about the experience and continues to run. His next challenge is to become the first person to run across the entire continental America. The journey will take you from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, Argentina. “The goal is to raise awareness around the world about the benefits of physical activity, and to show that humans are capable of extraordinary things,” he said. “Not everyone needs to run a marathon every day,” he says. “But everyone needs to have a true belief in their own ability.”
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