What would happen if you decided to just… run around the world?
No, seriously. That’s what Marie Leautey did. She’s only the second woman in history to complete a verified World Run—crossing four continents, coast to coast, on foot. She pushed a stroller (not with a baby - important note), slept in a tent, dodged kangaroos, used bear spray in Montana, and somehow didn’t get injured while running over 28,000 kilometers.
In this episode, Marie and I talk about:
How a random doodle at work turned into a 2.5-year global running adventure
What actually counts as a “run around the world” (yes, there are rules! No, they don't make you run on water!)
Staying injury-free while running 700+ marathons in a row (the “body scan” trick is genius)
The joy of running without pace goal… or time goals… or really any data at all
Being mistaken for a mom with a baby in a stroller (and how that probably kept her safe)
Why she got fined $2,600 over a rogue scallion at the Australian border
And how to tell the difference between giving up… and just hitting a (global pandemic) Pause Button
Marie’s story is one of those rare ones that’s impossible to summarize and even harder to forget. It’s about running, yes, but also freedom, persistence, problem-solving, and learning how to really listen to your body (and your gut).
📖 Her book Lootie’s World Run: The Extraordinary True Story of the Fastest Woman to Have Run Around the World is wonderful; part memoir, part field guide, part “wait, she did what?!” Get your copy today!
Research & production assistance by Sophie van Leeuwen