Some people plan their feats of endurance months in advance. Daniel Behm is not one of those people.
Last spring, mid-run, Daniel had a thought — not a small one, like “I should buy more bananas,” but a big one: What if I ran seven half marathons in seven days? And because Daniel doesn’t just think things — he acts on them — he decided to begin immediately. Yes, during that same run. Idea to execution, instantly.
The inspiration came from a British man who ran across the UK, completing a marathon every day. Daniel saw that and thought, “People can adjust to anything. Everything can be normalised.” So with no training and no hesitation, he launched his own ultralocal experiment.
The first two days went smoothly. Day three hit hard. Feeling the signs of a possible injury, Daniel wisely paused. But on day four, he returned strong. Day five was a rest day, day six another successful run. On day seven, he opted to rest again, knowing his limits. In the end, he completed four half marathons in seven days.
Each one was faster than the last, finishing with an impressive 2 hours and 13 minutes. Not bad for someone who came up with the plan mid-stride.
Throughout the week, a friend cycled beside him for support. He waved to friends and family along the route. The beginning was rough, but Daniel got stronger with each run. After the final one, he felt transformed — like a new person who now knows five half marathons in five days is not just possible, but probable.
To celebrate, he rewarded himself with a mountain of pizza, though in his heart, he’ll always be a burger guy. His friends and family called him crazy, but they were impressed. So were we.
Daniel may not have completed the full challenge on paper, but in spirit, he nailed it. This was never about perfection. It was about trying something bold, living in the “I will” instead of “Can I?” And with that mindset, Daniel Behm became the almost-first WeekdayWarrior of Ullanlinna — a title he’s sure to earn for real very soon.