POINT REYES (KPIX 5) — For most people running one marathon is a major accomplishment, imagine running 590.
That’s what Belgian natives Weking Van Rweedh and Sebastiaan Vandermolen are doing, running 26 miles a day from Alaska all the way to Argentina.
The journey will take two years, it began in June 2016 and will end in April of 2018. They arrived in Point Reyes Thursday. “After half a year of running 135 marathons we’re almost in San Francisco, so it’s pretty incredible,” Van Rweedh said.
While Sebastiaan and Weking run, their wives, An Wouters and Liesbeth Balemans, drive behind them in UHauls that have been transformed into tiny apartments.
“It’s pretty small but it’s quite comfortable actually,” Vandermolen said of the space. “We’ve learned to talk again, you know? Its not about being on our smart phones or computers, we’re always together. We’ve learned the basic principles of living again, he said.”
Along the way they’re raising money for “To Walk Again” an organization that supports disabled athletes. Balemans father permanently injured his spinal cord prompting him to sell his business and also travel the world. “He’s a big inspiration,” Balemans said.
All four left behind jobs, and homes in Belgium to take on this two year endeavor. “I was really stressful at home,” Vandermolen said. Now the only true comfort their missing? “Belgian fries and bread,” Vandermolen says.
Otherwise, “we’re just running. We don’t want to break records, just run for the sake of running. Put one foot in front of the other thats about it.”
The group will cross the Golden Gate Bridge Friday and continue south towards Mexico.
