‘It’s one foot in front of the other,’ Wisconsin runner completes all six World Marathon Majors

OREGON, Wis. (WMTV) - A Wisconsin man has completed a feat only so many runners ever accomplish in their lifetime.

Dan Bertler recently finished the sixth and final race to earn the coveted Six Star Finisher Medal.

“All six are done and in the bucket,” the 58-year-old Oregon resident said.

To earn the title of marathon running’s greatest prize, runners must complete all six World Marathon Majors: Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin, New York City and Tokyo.

Bertler finished the Toyko Marathon on March 2nd. But crossing that finish line didn’t come without some hurdles.

“This year, I had a little bit of a hiccup. Started running in December and tore my meniscus. So, hadn’t finished the medal, had to finish Tokyo. Had to get there,” he said.

Bertler went to UW Sports Clinic. The doctor said “We’ll get you to the finish line.”

“And that’s exactly what happened,” Bertler said. “So I’m done! Six races, the majors are done and next step I’m retired from marathons.”

At the age of 38, Bertler started running for fun. Now, it’s become a part of his morning routine. Like many runners, it’s a way to relieve stress.

However, he doesn’t do it alone.

“Every one of these races, excluding Boston, I’ve done with my two brothers,” he said. “They don’t live around here so it’s our way of getting together once a year and you know creating that bond that we’ve always had.”

Bertler’s brothers, David and Mark, live in Florida and Illinois.

“It’s always nice when we meet up at the airport and get on the plane and head to the destination,” he said. “I don’t look at it as ‘I’m going to go run a marathon’ it’s more of a great vacation with a run.”

While he says he might be retired from marathons now, he encourages others who want to start running to go for it.

“You can start running any time you want. It’s one foot in front of the other.”

Now Bertler has the memories and the medals that will last a lifetime.

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