John Arne Riise Completes 172km Treadmill Run in 24 Hours and Reveals Reason for Dramatic 16-Week Weight Loss
Over the weekend, Liverpool legend John Arne Riise – known for his relentless energy on the pitch – casually completed a *24-hour* treadmill run. The event saw Riise cover an unbelievable 172km (106.8 miles), all in the name of raising awareness and funds for mental health.
Following in the footsteps of fellow Norwegian Bjørn Tore Kronen Taranger, who's held the 24-hour treadmill run world record since 2018 (264.52 kilometers / 164.52 miles), Riise said, ‘It’s the toughest and most intense thing I’ve ever been through, physically and mentally.' But the pain saw him raise more than 250,000 Norwegian Krone (around £17,850).
'This is the moment I finished 24 hours on the treadmill yesterday 😅,' he shared on Instagram. 'Proud of my achievement and especially where I was physically and mentally 4 months ago 🔥 did this for a Great cause, Mental health! I ended up with 172km, In a run I didn’t think I could do ❤️ Thanks for all the support and everyone that participated and ran during this very hard 24 hours ❤️'
And his celebration after such a superhuman effort? The kind of recovery we can all get behind. ‘I’m going home, shower, put my feet on the couch, order the biggest kebab ever with hot sauce, Pepsi Max, candy, and then I’m not going to move for two days,' he said immediately after the run.
John Arne Riise's 16-Week Weight Loss
In his seven years at Liverpool, the now 44-year-old played 348 times and won seven trophies – including the 2005 Champions League. He was perhaps best known, however, for kicking the ball really, really hard. (The latter summed up by the top comment on this free-kick video: 'John Arne Riise’s left foot was essentially a nuclear deterrent.') Just ask the unfortunate Alan Smith, who – in attempting to block a trademark Riise rocket in 2006 – was left with a broken leg and dislocated ankle.
But after retiring from football in 2017 – after notable spells at Roma and Fulham – Riise, like many former pros, found it difficult to stay fit. Gradually, his weight crept up and motivation wained. Until Norwegian reality TV came to the rescue.
Last year, Riise took part in 16 Weeks of Hell: a show in which six celebrities take on a gruelling four-month bootcamp. 'I want to become a machine again,' he told Norwegian outlet Dagbladet. 'It's been a while since I stopped playing football, so it will be exciting to see how much of a machine I can become.'
Safe to say, mission accomplished:
'Picture on the left is 15 weeks ago,' Riise wrote in December last year. 'The other one is few days ago. My journey on 16 weeks of hell has really paid off and I’m extremely happy with the effort I have put in to make my daily life better 🥰🔥 One week left before the tv show is done but my new lifestyle will continue ❤️ I have loads of missions ahead 🔥'
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