He Ran 61 Marathons in 61 Days With Nothing But a Backpack: Aleksander Lingauer's Story of Obsession, Purpose, and What It Means to Chase Something Real

Sixty-one marathons in sixty-one days: From the southern border of Germany to the northern sea, Aleksander Lingauer covered the entire distance on his own. No sponsors. No shortcuts. Just a backpack, a belief, and the stubborn will to see it through. Aleksander is an endurance athlete and writer, and the mind behind Project 61 , a solo mission to run the length of Germany, one marathon a day, for two straight months. But his story isn't just about distance, it's about what happens when no one's watching. About walking away from millions to protect something deeper. And about the kind of training no one puts on social media—the alleyway push-ups, the quiet breakdowns, the handwritten letters from the far edges of Europe. He's now writing his first book, a raw account of his 419-day solo hike across the continent. Alexander is taking the steps to explore the space where discipline meets obsession, where modern masculinity meets vulnerability, and what it costs to chase something real in a world that moves fast and forgets even faster. If you're building something hard, trying to stay steady in the noise, or looking for proof that grit still matters, then this episode is for you. Let's get into it. In today's conversation, Aleksander takes me through his wild physical adventures, what drives him to do these things, crewing the BPN Last Man Standing Race for Zach Pogrob and Kim, his ambitions for the future, and how to live for more. Aleksander is 1 of 1. And this conversation was very introspective in the best of ways. Tap into the Aleksander Lingauer Special. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. Comment the word "PODCAST" below and I'll DM you a link to listen. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz