In what he described as the “most boring” challenge he could imagine, a Brazilian runner completed 188 kilometers in 24 hours on a curved, non-motorized treadmill, setting a new world record pending official confirmation from Guinness World Records.

The athlete behind the attempt is 35-year-old Brazilian endurance enthusiast Pepe Fiamoncini. The challenge took place at an open-air gym on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Starting at 9:00 a.m. local time on February 4, 2026, Fiamoncini ran continuously on a commercial curved treadmill until 9:00 a.m. the following day, covering a total distance equivalent to more than four full marathons.

The entire challenge was monitored via live stream, with on-site observers recording the performance. Under the rules, Fiamoncini was only allowed very short breaks during the 24-hour period, mainly to change shoes or use the restroom. For the rest of the time, he remained on the treadmill in continuous motion.

Fiamoncini explained that the motivation behind the challenge was his curiosity about his own limits. “I define myself with one word: curious. I’m curious about my abilities,” he said.

This was not his first attempt at an endurance record. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he began systematic training in endurance sports and signed up for an Ironman triathlon, often regarded as the pinnacle of human endurance. After completing that, he moved on to the even more demanding Ultraman distance and eventually set his sights on Guinness World Records.

In May 2023, he completed a long-distance crossing of the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia at an altitude of around 3,600 meters. He covered 170 kilometers in 33 hours, 4 minutes and 10 seconds, breaking the previous record of 55 hours and earning his first world record.

After conquering high altitude and extreme temperature conditions, Fiamoncini began searching for a new type of challenge. “I wanted to test my mental limits, so I asked myself: what is the most boring thing I hate? The answer was running in the same place non-stop,” he said.

As preparation, he carried out a “warm-up” attempt in October 2025, running 110 kilometers in 12 hours on a treadmill and setting his second Guinness record. The latest 24-hour, 188-kilometer effort now represents a major milestone in his pursuit of a third record.

From an industry perspective, such ultra-endurance challenges continue to highlight the role of treadmills in long-duration training and performance testing. In professional training environments, commercial gyms, and home fitness settings, treadmills are evolving from basic cardio machines into integrated platforms capable of supporting data tracking, endurance challenges, and even virtual competitions.

With the continued development of smart connectivity, digital ecosystems, and virtual racing platforms, more endurance events may shift to indoor equipment such as treadmills, where performances can be broadcast live and shared across social media to reach a global audience.