Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are all about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories.

For those of you who have run a marathon, think about all that goes into the experience: Months of training, the anticipation of race day, the challenges you overcome and the triumph (hopefully) of crossing the finish line. Now, imagine doing that every week for 52 weeks. Impossible? Dane Rauschenberg from See Dane Run defied the odds and ran 52 certified marathons in 52 weeks in 2006, raising thousands of dollars for charity along the way. And that’s just the beginning.

Dane is an extreme athlete, motivational speaker and author whose goal is to inspire people to give their all, regardless of what their “all” may be. Dane believes that with the right attitude, there are few things that can stand in our way. And there are few things that have stood in his way. In addition to running nearly 150 marathons so far, Dane has also run all 202 miles of the American Odyssey Relay alone in just over 50 hours and the entire 350-mile coast of Oregon in 7 days. The list of jaw-dropping physical challenges goes on.

I had a chance to catch up with Dane and find out where he gets his motivation and inspiration. Check out what this unique and driven athlete had to say.

When did you start running and what inspired you to start?
I have always been running – in the sports I played as a child or in between classes. Making “running” sound so specific confuses people who are active to think it is that much different from what they already do. Too many think they aren’t a runner even though they run many miles in their own sports. I would like to debunk that idea.

In 2006, you ran 52 certified marathons in 52 weeks. What inspired you to take on this incredible challenge?
I found I was better than most at recovering from long, hard races, so I wanted to see what I could challenge myself to do.

Note: You can see all of the marathons Dane has run here.

How did your body respond to so much racing?
It responded well. Far better than not only the normal body should, but my own. Later in life, I found out I have Gilbert’s Syndrome. Long story short, Gilbert’s means that I don’t recover as well from strenuous activity as others do. That goes to show you that it is wonderful to be blissfully ignorant about what you aren’t supposed to be able to do in life.

What is your favorite marathon you ran?
I often get asked what my favorite marathon is. When I waffle on the answer, I get the “Ah, come on.” The easy answer would be to choose my fastest. Or maybe my first sub-3-hour marathon. Or the first time I qualified for Boston. I truly don’t know what my favorite one is. If I am lucky, I haven’t run it yet.

What was your fastest marathon?
My fastest marathon was my sixth marathon in 5 weeks – again proving I do well when I rest less. I ran 2:49:36 at the Ogden Marathon, which tells me I have something faster in me, especially if I am not at 5,000 feet of elevation when I run it.

Which was the most challenging marathon for you?
Definitely in the running is the Pikes Peak Marathon. In and of itself, it is challenging. Getting hit by a car and massively separating your shoulder 4 days beforehand adds to it. But it was my 100^th lifetime marathon and I went through with it. It makes for a great chapter in my second book.

Which was your least favorite marathon?
Most of the things that make a race unsavory have nothing to do with the race itself. Bad weather conditions, unsatisfactory training, illness or issues weighing on my mind often make a race difficult or make me not want to return.

What kept you hydrated and fueled the best during your year of the marathon (or while training and racing at long distances in general)?
There are no secrets to food and drink. Or rather, the secret is what works for each person individually. I am a huge lover of eating lean beef and I think it is one of the reasons why I continue to do as well as I do.

As part of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks, you have raised a lot of money for charities that are important to you. Tell us what causes motivated you and how your running has helped others in need.
I raised about $42,000 for the Mobile, Alabama, chapter of L’arche International during my 52 marathons. Since then, I have raised money both directly and indirectly for a variety of worthwhile causes and charities. I mostly do what I can to raise hope and strength amongst people so they too can pass that onto others. Raising money is great; raising spirits is better.

As if 52 marathons in a single year isn’t enough, you’ve since run all 202 miles of the American Odyssey Relay, the entire 350 miles of the Oregon cost in a week and you’ve run from Wisconsin to Iowa (165 miles) followed by running a marathon the next day. What drives you to keep pushing to achieve these jaw-dropping feats?
I learned a long time ago that the more you do, the less you are impressed with yourself. I am acutely aware of the talents I have. I will never run a 2:20 marathon. I will never run a sub-4-minute mile. But I know what I can do or at least what my past successes have shown me I am capable of doing. Some see this as arrogance. I know it’s simply knowing myself. Being confident in one’s own ability based on results previously attained simply shows intelligence.

I bristle at false humility or fake modesty. It is rarely the elites who are elitists. It seems to me that those who most feel the need to prove something are often those who have little they can prove. I love meeting people in all walks of life who are good at something, know it and can cut the pretense out of pretending to act like they are not.

What running accomplishment or goal is next for you?
Too many to list. So many races to run. So much of the world to see. My dreams are not limited by my imagination but rather my bank account.

To all the new marathoners out there who are hoping to run their first marathon in 2015, what is the most important piece of advice you’d give them?
Nobody knows what you need but you. Experiment, taste-test, choose, decide, realize you made the wrong choice and choose again.

What is your running mantra(s)?
I don’t have a mantra. I am too busy listening to my body. To my surroundings. To all the clues that each muscle is giving me telling me I can push here but I need to hold back there.

Finish this sentence: I run because _______________________.
I run because I can.

How can people connect with you?
Blog: http://danerunsalot.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @SeeDaneRun
Instagram: @danerauschenberg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedanerun
Books: Running With The Girls and 138,336 Feet to Pure Bliss – What I Learned about Life, Women (and Running) in My 1st 100 Marathons

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Do you know someone with an inspiring story that should be featured on Friday FITspiration? If so, email runladylike@gmail.com.

What inspires you most about Dane’s running journey? If you could run any marathon in the world, what is #1 on your bucket list?