42 Marathons and 1 Ultramarathon in 2021

By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo

In 2021 I did 3,245 km (2,016 miles), including the EcoTrail de Paris (80 km) and 42 marathons—one marathon for each km of the classical run—, and burned 196,766 kcal, i.e. the equivalent of 25.5 kg (56.2 lb.) of body fat. I ran four marathons in last six days of December to reach 42 marathons and 2000 miles. Researcher Max Wishnofsky calculated in 1958 that one pound of body fat stores approximately 3,500 kcal of energy.

Running keeps us young, fit and healthy, while running barefoot prevents pain, injury and fatigue so much so that doing a marathon turns into a walk in the park. Find out how and why in my the book Running Barefoot for Human Survival.  I started running at 55 and running barefoot at 60, which means there is no excuse. In other words, contrary to what some bipedal primates stupidly write on social media, I’ve never been running after animals in the African Savannah. On the other hand, the marathon is just the new form of persistence hunting, which explains why some finishers instinctively bite the metallic medals—as if they were actual animals—and proudly take selfies, which usually generate a lot of likes.
My book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).