A TikToker ran a marathon on her treadmill under her desk during the workday

A TikToker ran a marathon on her treadmill under her desk during the workday

Under-desk treadmills are marketed as a great way to get a little activity while working, but one woman has taken this concept and run with it. Kristen Hollinghaus Seninger actually ran a marathon on a workday – and documented the whole thing on TikTok.

Seninger, who previously ran a half marathon on her compact treadmill during her workday, shared in a now-viral TikTok that she completed an impressive 42.2 miles while working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m

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"If you thought I was crazy before, you're going to think I'm even crazier," she says in the video. She decided to run the marathon to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her running mat and wanted to accomplish "one more goal" before the year was over, Seninger says in the clip.

In the video, Seninger straps her Apple Watch to her ankle to log her mileage and starts running. “In addition to breakfast and occasional bathroom and water breaks, I ran consistently from 8:15 a.m. [a.m.] until about 11:40 a.m.,” she says, noting that she got “super hot” along the way. Still, she was determined to ride her fastest pace earlier in the day because that's when she typically feels more energetic, she explains.

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Seninger hops off the treadmill just before noon to drink a Diet Coke, eat lunch and relax a bit before diving back into her walk. Seninger started developing a blister on her heel, “but I just persevered,” she says. She takes another break at 15.75 miles to eat and then returns before stopping for a final stretch break.

According to her video, Seninger finally completed her walk at 4:39 p.m. In the end, Seninger actually ran a little more than a marathon: 26.41 miles, to be exact. “I can’t believe I just did that,” she says. “I’ll probably never do it again, but I feel very accomplished.”

Seninger was given a walking pad to help her stay active while working a remote desktop job. “I don’t like sitting in my chair for eight hours straight,” she recently told Runner’s World. She gradually increased her mileage and then decided to tackle a marathon before the end of the year.

If you have a treadmill under your desk, you might be wondering if you could pull off something like this. But is it a good idea to run a marathon during your workday?

There's no reason a generally healthy person can't run a marathon if they put their mind to it, says Albert Matheny, MS, RD, CSCS, co-founder of SoHo Strength Lab and Promix Nutrition. “I think that’s fine, unlike sitting for eight hours, which is not good for your health,” he says. ICYDK: Research shows that sitting for long periods of time can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and other sedentary activities can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

However, if you want to try running a long distance — or even a marathon — during the day, Matheny suggests building up to it. That is, try running a few miles during the day, then gradually add more miles to build up your endurance.

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To complete a longer distance like a marathon or half marathon, Matheny emphasizes the importance of being aware of your posture. "You shouldn't crane your neck down or bend forward, which can cause all sorts of problems and increase your risk of injury," he says.

If you're new to walking longer distances, 10,000 steps (the equivalent of five miles) is "a good baseline," says Matheny. However, “more is not always better,” he says. "You don't have to run a marathon, but the idea of ​​walking while working from home is great." As always, listen to your body and consult your doctor before trying a new exercise routine or activity.