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Only five runners entered, but none besides Oren managed to endure the full schedule.
By Shula Rosen
Israeli ultra-runner Kobi Oren has completed what organizers describe as the longest certified footrace ever held, reaching 5,500 kilometers after 54 consecutive days on a closed course in northern Italy,Ynet reported.
The 53-year-old psychologist from Kiryat Tivon became the only athlete to finish the challenge, running close to 20 hours a day and covering distances that amounted to more than two marathons daily.
Oren’s achievement came at an event built specifically for breaking endurance records, where participants circled a fixed loop for weeks on end.
Only five runners entered, but none besides Oren managed to endure the full schedule.
His final time — 1,297 hours, 24 minutes, and 8 seconds — represents an uninterrupted test of physical and mental strain rarely attempted in organized sport.
He said the race designer wanted conditions that would allow “significant records” to fall, describing the event as comparable to completing 10 Ironman competitions in sequence.
“It’s unbelievable I accomplished this — hard to grasp,” he told Ynet after reaching the finish.
Oren, who has been running since his military service, shifted from standard marathons to ultra-distance events years ago after frequent early injuries pushed him toward trail running.
He recalls that his confidence grew after a six-day race at Athens Airport, where switching to a more suitable shoe propelled him into the lead.
That victory — 768 kilometers in under a week — made him the first Israeli to win an international multi-day competition.
The Italian course required complete separation from normal life.
Oren spent about four hours each day resting in a tent, often without meaningful sleep, while a support crew handled food and hydration.
His son Ilay joined him partway through the race to cook and assist with logistics, which Oren said saved precious time.
He notes that the greatest danger is losing emotional steadiness during the long hours.
“When you feel difficulty, you talk to yourself and try to break the goal into parts. The most important condition is to run with a quiet mind,” he said.
Although the feat is expected to ignite attempts by other endurance athletes, Oren doubts he will be the one to push the distance further.
“I’m 53 now, and I assume I won’t be able to run like this at 70,” he said. “What I get is an encounter with myself as I face hardship… I’m the one who broke a boundary of human ability.”
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