© Today Radio
Luxembourg runner Marc Holstein recently completed a remarkable challenge: running 10 marathons in 10 consecutive days, all while continuing to work full-time as an architect.
Marc Holstein, 33, discovered running during the early days of the pandemic, around the same time he quit smoking. What started as a personal health decision quickly became a passion. In 2022, he completed his first marathon in three hours and twenty minutes. Just two years later, he set himself an ambitious new goal.
This time, his challenge had a deeply personal motivation. Holstein ran to raise funds for Think Pink Luxembourg, dedicating his effort to his grandmother, Andrée Peters, who passed away on July 9 2023. She had battled breast cancer multiple times, and her strength left a lasting impact on him. He began the 10-day challenge on the anniversary of her death.
Appearing on The Sam Steen Show, Holstein described the physical and mental difficulty of the challenge. He said the second day was the hardest, as his body struggled to recover from the previous effort. By day three, he began to adapt. With each passing day, his endurance grew.
Training for such a challenge is not straightforward. The architect explained that it is not recommended to simulate that kind of distance in advance, as it would be too demanding on the body. Instead, he relied on the base fitness he had developed earlier in the year while training for a sub-2:45 marathon attempt.
Holstein also shared insights into his nutrition, recovery, and running routine. He ate more than usual, focused on carbohydrate intake, and used energy gels and electrolyte drinks during each run. Despite the extreme conditions, he finished the challenge without any blisters or cramps and was able to go for a short run again within days.
His GoFundMe campaign initially aimed to raise €4,219.50 one euro for every metre of a marathon. So far, the total has exceeded €7,000, and the campaign remains open to donations. You can contribute here.
Holstein says he is not sure what comes next. He is considering entering the Mullerthal Trail event later this year and may make another attempt at a sub-2:45 marathon in the future. For now, he is focused on recovery and sharing his passion with others, including starting a casual running club at his workplace.
“Running has given me clarity, connection, and purpose,” he said. “It has become an important part of my life, and I hope it can inspire others too.”
