Chinese Man Runs 372 Marathons in a Row After Manga Inspires Him

After losing everything to a failed business and divorce, Li Shaoyong called himself a "loser in life" who had lost all motivation to keep going. Then he discovered the Japanese manga "One Punch Man," where the hero gains incredible strength through simple daily training: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10 km run.

Li decided to try the routine himself. For 1,000 consecutive days, the 41-year-old from Shandong Province followed the "Saitama Workout Method," named after the manga's main character. On his 1,000th day last July, he celebrated by running 100 km and doing 1,000 push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.

But he wasn't finished. Just weeks later on August 3, Li set out from his hometown with an even bigger goal: run a full marathon every single day for an entire year. He wanted to break the existing Guinness World Record of 366 consecutive days.

Every morning for 372 days, Li woke up in a different Chinese city and ran 42.195 km. He livestreamed his journey online, running at a pace of 5 to 7 minutes per kilometer and finishing each marathon in roughly five hours. He fueled himself with iced tea and electrolyte drinks, and when painful calluses formed on his feet, he'd stop at local foot care shops for treatment before continuing.

The journey took him through more than 300 cities across all 34 of China's provincial regions. He covered over 15,000 km total. On August 9, he officially broke the record in Jinan, Shandong Province, surpassing Brazilian runner Hugo Farias's previous mark by six days.

Why This Inspires

Li's health hasn't been perfect. Recent tests showed elevated creatinine levels from the constant running. Still, he maintains a moderate pace and isn't stopping yet. He plans to extend his streak to 520 consecutive days, finishing in Lhasa, Tibet in early next year.

The marathon challenge is just his second of seven major life goals, inspired by the seven Dragon Balls from another popular manga. "Even ordinary people have the opportunity to achieve great things," Li told the South China Morning Post. "The prerequisite is to make a decision, set a goal, and never let go of your dream."

After five years of running, the man who once saw himself as a failure now wants to prove that anyone can create an extraordinary version of themselves if they keep moving forward.