Dr. Sidy Diallo Walked 263 km in 6 Days
(from July 3 to 8, 2026)
Total Distance: 263 km
Total Walking Time: 50 hours
Total Calories: 14,610
Period: July 3 to 8, 2026
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
July 29, 2026
Long-distance running and walking is the best medicine
Despite the high temperatures recorded in France—up to 34 °C (93 °F) in Paris—in early July 2026, at the age of 71, I walked 263 km in six days across the Paris region to demonstrate the benefits of long-distance running and walking. The distance km includes a solo half-marathon as a warm-up, an official 100 km walk, three solo marathons, and four short walks.
This ancestral physical activity—routinely practiced by humans in the Stone Age to get food and ensure their survival—remains indeed valuable for another reason: today, it serves as a natural, free, and effective way to keep modern humans fit and in excellent physical and mental health, even as they age.
In other words, the human body is designed for the primary activity of Paleolithic humans—long-distance running and walking—and certainly not for our current lifestyle, which explains the frequent failure of medications, injections, and the like. Consequently, we must continue to engage in this fundamental activity alongside our modern jobs, or else risk suffering from physical and mental ailments and prematurely losing our physical and cognitive capabilities.
Since July 2025, I have been walking and running over 600 km per month, barefoot or in minimalist shoes, without experiencing any pain or injury.
Total Walking Time: 50 hours
Total Calories: 14,610
Period: July 3 to 8, 2026
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
July 29, 2026
Long-distance running and walking is the best medicine
Despite the high temperatures recorded in France—up to 34 °C (93 °F) in Paris—in early July 2026, at the age of 71, I walked 263 km in six days across the Paris region to demonstrate the benefits of long-distance running and walking. The distance km includes a solo half-marathon as a warm-up, an official 100 km walk, three solo marathons, and four short walks.
This ancestral physical activity—routinely practiced by humans in the Stone Age to get food and ensure their survival—remains indeed valuable for another reason: today, it serves as a natural, free, and effective way to keep modern humans fit and in excellent physical and mental health, even as they age.
In other words, the human body is designed for the primary activity of Paleolithic humans—long-distance running and walking—and certainly not for our current lifestyle, which explains the frequent failure of medications, injections, and the like. Consequently, we must continue to engage in this fundamental activity alongside our modern jobs, or else risk suffering from physical and mental ailments and prematurely losing our physical and cognitive capabilities.
Since July 2025, I have been walking and running over 600 km per month, barefoot or in minimalist shoes, without experiencing any pain or injury.
Since July 2025, Dr. Sidy Diallo has been walking and running over 600 km per month, barefoot or in minimalist shoes.
During the six days I spent in France, I managed to walk 263 km in 50 hours, burning 14,610 calories.
At the age of 71, Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo walked 263 km in 6 days in the Paris region to demonstrate the benefits of long-distance running and walking.
The 263 km include a solo half-marathon as a warm-up, an official 100 km walk, three solo marathons, and four short walks.
The 263 km Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo walked in 6 days include a solo half-marathon as a warm-up, an official 100 km walk, three solo marathons, and four short walks.
Below, I detail my five longest walks on those six days.
Day 1 (July 3): The France Half Marathon # 7
I completed a solo France half-marathon on July 3rd to warm up for the 100 km walk scheduled for the following day. I have been calling my solo walks and runs in France “France Half-Marathons,” “France Marathons,” etc., since July 2025. I began doing solo half-marathons, marathons, and ultramarathons in 2020 due to race cancellations worldwide.
Day 1 (July 3): The France Half Marathon # 7
I completed a solo France half-marathon on July 3rd to warm up for the 100 km walk scheduled for the following day. I have been calling my solo walks and runs in France “France Half-Marathons,” “France Marathons,” etc., since July 2025. I began doing solo half-marathons, marathons, and ultramarathons in 2020 due to race cancellations worldwide.
Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo’s France Half Marathon # 7 Garmin Data
Days 2 and 3 (July 4 and 5): The 2026 Yvelines 100 km Long March
That was the main goal of my trip to France. We set off from the town of Montigny-le-Bretonneux at 2:00 p.m. (Paris time) and walked across the Yvelines department until 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. I completed my initial 100 km trek with disconcerting ease—a joyful, rewarding experience worthy of the Stone Age, and entirely free of pain, injury, or fatigue. I therefore decided to follow this up by walking three solo marathons over the next three days—running wasn't the ideal choice, given the high temperatures.
That was the main goal of my trip to France. We set off from the town of Montigny-le-Bretonneux at 2:00 p.m. (Paris time) and walked across the Yvelines department until 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. I completed my initial 100 km trek with disconcerting ease—a joyful, rewarding experience worthy of the Stone Age, and entirely free of pain, injury, or fatigue. I therefore decided to follow this up by walking three solo marathons over the next three days—running wasn't the ideal choice, given the high temperatures.
Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo’s 2026 Yvelines 100 km Long March Garmin Data
Day 4 (July 6): The 2026 Statue of Liberty Marathon
I did my 578th marathon from the town of Montigny-le-Bretonneux to Paris where I finished the race in front of the Statue of Liberty on Swan Island.
I did my 578th marathon from the town of Montigny-le-Bretonneux to Paris where I finished the race in front of the Statue of Liberty on Swan Island.
Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo’s 2026 Statue of Liberty Marathon Garmin Data
Day 5 (July 7): The France Marathon # 8
I revisited the Port-Royal state forest and the Noés pond for my 579th marathon.
I revisited the Port-Royal state forest and the Noés pond for my 579th marathon.
Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo’s France Marathon # 8 Garmin Data
Day 6 (July 8): The 2026 Lake SQY Marathon
On June 14, 2020, I ran a 90 km ultramarathon at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (SQY) Leisure Park: the 2020 virtual Comrades Marathon. This time returned to the same park for my 580th marathon.
On June 14, 2020, I ran a 90 km ultramarathon at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (SQY) Leisure Park: the 2020 virtual Comrades Marathon. This time returned to the same park for my 580th marathon.
Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo’s 2026 Lake SQY Marathon Garmin Data
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).