Marie Leautey, a French runner and author, is only the second woman ever to complete a verified World Run, covering over 28,000 kilometers across four continents. She shares the whimsical start of her journey from a doodle to a global adventure and the strict rules that define a world run. Marie discusses her clever strategies to avoid injuries while running marathons daily, including a unique body scan trick. With tales of dodging kangaroos and unexpected fines, her journey is a blend of freedom, perseverance, and the joy of running without constraints.
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Late Start to Running
Marie Leautey became a runner at 26 after failing to run 1 kilometer and quitting smoking immediately.
This humbling start ignited her passion for running and the outdoors that shaped her life.
insights INSIGHT
Rules of World Run
Official "run around the world" must follow ten rules including running across four continents and passing through antipodal points.
It requires a continuous direction and a minimum distance of 26,232 km to be recognized.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Verify Your World Run Journey
Use satellite beacon and GPS tracking to prove your run and allow verification by others.
Document daily GPS data and keep a blog to corroborate your continuous journey.
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In 'Travels with Charley', John Steinbeck recounts his journey across America in a camper named Rocinante, accompanied by his standard poodle Charley. The book is a blend of travelogue and social commentary, reflecting Steinbeck's observations on American culture and society during the early 1960s. While the book is often humorous and engaging, it also delves into serious issues like racial tensions and the changing American landscape.
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!
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