By Kylie Reynolds
Breaking a Guinness World Record, 23-year-old Central Ohio resident Kalyn Jolivette will become the first woman in the world to run 11 full marathons in 11 consecutive days on Saturday morning.
On June 9, Jolivette, who is a medical student, began running a daily 26.2 mile marathon at Pickerington North High School to raise money and awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Jolivette, who has two longtime friends affected by cystic fibrosis, aims to raise $10,000 for the foundation.
“It’s a cause that is near and dear to her heart,” said Susan Deutschle, executive director of the Central Ohio chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
She has already collected thousands of dollars from individuals and organizations in the community, as well as through a sponsorship by Humana, one of Ohio’s largest health insurers.
Completing her record-breaking 11th marathon on Saturday morning, the seasoned distance runner, who recently completed a 700-mile running challenge through Ohio’s 88 counties in less than one month, will celebrate another victory: her 24th birthday.
Alongside Jolivette on Saturday will be hundreds of participants, who can pay a fee to run as many laps as they desire with her as she achieves her goal. All proceeds will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“There are quite a few people that have come out,” Deutschle said. “(On June 17) we had some 50 high school students from a running group at a local school. Friends and family have come out, and people who have a passion for running who can relate to her.”