By: Yomna Walid

She didn’t plan to make history—she just refused to quit. From a sidelining knee injury to standing on some of the world’s highest peaks and now shattering records in the 2025 London Marathon, Mariz Doss proves that endurance is more than just physical—it’s a mindset. An everyday woman with an extraordinary will, Mariz recently became a Guinness World Record holder after completing two world-class marathons—Boston and London—within just five days, an accomplishment she hadn’t even known would land her in the record books.

In this exclusive interview with Nile FM, Mariz Doss opens up about the unexpected journey that led her from a knee injury to breaking a Guinness World Record at the 2025 London Marathon. Reflecting on the discipline it takes to balance a full-time job, a demanding training schedule and world-class races, Mariz shares how a simple rehab jog transformed into a global endurance mission. Through every challenge, Mariz proves she’s not just a record-breaker, but a force redefining what it means to endure.

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Q: Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and what initially drew you to the world of endurance sports?

I’m just an ordinary person who’s been given extraordinary opportunities—and every time a door opened, I chose to walk through it. I’ve never been afraid to take chances, even if the outcome is uncertain. People often see the highlights and successes of my journey, but behind every milestone are hurdles I’ve had to overcome with intention and resilience.

I’ve loved sports and movement since I was a child—playing for my school teams, joining tournaments, and even mimicking matches I watched on TV. My path into running began unexpectedly more than 14 years ago after a knee injury forced me to stop playing soccer and any other sport that had a risk of twisting my knees. At the end of my rehab, my doctor told me I could jog—nothing more just to start gaining some muscle mass. I had never even run 500 meters before, but I started walking, then transitioned to jogging and finally to running. From 5Ks to full marathons, that one limitation sparked the beginning of a whole new chapter.

Q: Your journey in endurance sports, from marathons to climbing peaks, is incredibly inspiring. Can you walk us through how you got started and some of the key milestones that shaped your path?

Not many people know this, but I have a full-time 9-to-5 job, Egypt’s leading insurance brokerage firm. I love what I do and I’ve been incredibly lucky to have their support along the way.

I’m also a coach with a running community that’s helped shape the running scene in Egypt over the past few years. Beyond that, I’m a mountaineer—I began this chapter in 2018 when I climbed the highest peak in Africa. Since then, I’ve summited mountains across the world, including ranges in the Himalayas, the Andes and the Alps. One special moment was becoming the second Egyptian woman to summit Mont Blanc.

The reason I even attempted that first mountain was because of a friend who inspired me to try. I’ve always loved nature and I was curious—but I had no idea how hard it would be! Still, I kept going.

One of the turning points in my journey was having powerful leaders who believed in and empowered me in many ways. They saw a potential I never knew about at a young age which I’m thankful for. Ever since those days back in 2013 my life has been changing and folding into new chapters that amaze me.

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Q: The 2025 London Marathon was monumental, not just for you but for setting a new Guinness World Record. What was going through your mind when you realized you were part of such a huge achievement, especially when you unexpectedly received that certificate?

Honestly, I had no idea! I had just run the Boston Marathon five days earlier and all I hoped for in London was to finish in one piece—with a healthy body, heart and mind. Running two marathons in one week is incredibly tough, both physically and mentally. I was anxious and exhausted.

So, when I received the Guinness World Record certificate, it was a complete surprise. It felt like the perfect, unexpected reward for all the training, the effort and the sleepless nights. I still look at that certificate and feel deeply grateful—it’s one of those moments I’ll always treasure.

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Q: Every challenging journey has its hurdles. What were some of the biggest physical or mental challenges you've faced during your marathons or expeditions and how did you push through them?

The hardest part of a marathon isn’t the race day—it’s the training season. Balancing an intense training plan with a full-time job, family commitments and everything else life throws at you is a real challenge. Staying mentally strong and avoiding burnout while trying to perform at your best in every role you play takes a lot.

What keeps me going is a solid support system—at work, at home, in my running community. Without that, it would be impossible. Financing races and expeditions is another major hurdle. I’m very thankful for the support of my sponsors and partners, who make these journeys possible.

Q: Running two marathons in one week and summiting a continent's highest peak requires immense mental fortitude. What's your secret to staying motivated and pushing your limits, even when things get tough?

Having a strong support network is essential—friends, family and community. Having people who understand the struggle and can hold space for your bad days is what makes it possible to keep going.

Endurance sports are as much a mental game as they are physical. Training for a mountain is very different from training for a marathon, but both require resilience. You have to expect the lows as much as the highs. These aren’t just motivational phrases—these are nights I’ve cried through and days I barely made it out of bed. But I’ve learned to share the struggle as much as I share the success. Both are equally real and both shape who you become.

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A post shared by Mariz Doss (@mariz_doss)

Q: How do you typically prepare for such demanding events? Can you give us a glimpse into your training routine, both physically and mentally, leading up to a major marathon or climb?

My days start early—5:30 a.m. runs, then work from 9 to 5, followed by strength training in the evening. In between, I try to balance life, relationships and responsibilities. It’s demanding, but the goal in front of me—the peak, the finish line—keeps me grounded.

Training for mountains teaches you things nothing else can. You meet people from all over the world, far away from your usual noise. You connect with your most vulnerable self. The mountains show you how tiny and breakable you are, but also how strong and unbreakable your spirit can be. In the end, it’s never just about the summit—it’s about meeting the version of yourself who got you there.

Q: You mentioned the Guinness World Record moment was a complete surprise. Have there been other 'unexpected' moments or key lessons you've learned on your journey that have profoundly impacted you?

So many. The day I found myself sitting at the same table having dinner with a former US president because of my passion for sports was remarkable.

The day I found myself a guest speaker alongside world leaders and the most iconic names was also remarkable.

Reaching a continent’s highest peak or the Alps highest mountain was remarkable.

Running my first-ever marathon was remarkable.

Running two back-to-back marathons in one week was remarkable.

But also - Turning back on a mountain and realizing that my body just could not go any further step was another kind of remarkable lesson for life.

The day I got injured and was asked not to move for a year or few months and give my body the chance to heal and cure was also remarkable.

The whole journey has endless lessons of grit, power, weakness and so many in between where you realize a lot of parts inside you that you appreciate and honor.

Each moment, whether high or low, has taught me something about grit, grace, and my limits.

If I ever made it look easy, I want to say it’s not. It’s incredibly hard. And in those hardest moments, I always find myself longing for the people closest to my heart. Their support is the invisible thread that holds me together.

Q: With such demanding athletic pursuits, how do you manage to balance your training and events with other aspects of your life?

It’s not easy. You have to ask yourself how badly you want to reach that finish line or mountain top. That desire becomes your compass.

You learn to prioritize and say no to things—even things you love. That’s the price of chasing something big. Having a supportive workplace, coaches, sponsors and friends who believe in you makes all the difference.

One thing I always say, not everyone will understand what you’re doing and that’s okay. If it makes sense to you, that’s enough. Just keep showing up. It will all come together in time.

Q: What advice would you offer to someone inspired by your story to take on their own challenge, whether it’s running their first race or pursuing a big personal goal?

Start small. Set realistic goals. Be consistent.

The marathon is 42 kilometers, but it begins with a single step. Mountains are massive, but you climb them one foot at a time. Be patient and kind with yourself and take the journey as it comes. The process is slow, but it’s also beautiful.

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A post shared by Mariz Doss (@mariz_doss)

Q: After achieving so much already, including a world record and continental summits, what are your next big goals or adventures? What's on the horizon for Mariz Doss?

I’m currently working on completing the six World Marathon Majors—I’ve finished three and have three more to go. After that, I’ll be heading back to the mountains with my backpack in hand.

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