Natalija Gulin, a native of Zadar and originally from Biograd na Moru, is seemingly an "ordinary" family woman, mother and grandmother who recently turned 59. However, Natalija is an athlete with an incredible story. She recently ran her 66th race in her career, and also achieved unprecedented sporting success in Croatia. Enthusiastic, full of energy, she is always smiling and has lively plans for new marathons and ultramarathons in different locations around the world. We are particularly pleased to support these inspiring endeavors, and we are sure that they will inspire you too.
You recently returned from Tokyo where you ran your seventh Major Marathon. Why is that marathon special in your running career? Where did you run the other six?
At the moment, I am the only person (not only a woman), but the only person who has completed 7 Majors in this area... These are races in 7 world cities called "The Abott World Marathon Majors". My first Major was in Berlin in 2019, then New York in 2022, then Chicago, followed by Boston, London and Sydney in 2024 and Tokyo in 2025. That's why it's special, because it was the last one I missed in the "collection". My best result is 3 hours and 29 minutes in Sydney, which I am very proud of. I am told by many marathon runners and people "from athletics" from all over the world with whom I contact that my case is an absolute phenomenon and that it could enter the Guinness Book of Records. For some total recreational woman in her 50s to run a 3:29 marathon and do so many marathons with a 1 day recovery...
What was the entire preparation process for this marathon like? What were the days leading up to the race like?
I didn't prepare for this marathon any more specifically than for others, just the classics - intervals, hundreds, lengths and 1 day of rest... I'm not one of those who only runs 2 marathons a year, but I go run a marathon almost every 2 or 3 weeks, and it was like that before Tokyo. For this marathon, I was especially tired from the extremely long journey, but I still did a solid job.
You say you started running at the age of 50. How did that come about, or how did you discover that there was more to it than just recreation?
I am primarily a grandmother of 4 grandchildren, I have 3 daughters. I started running by chance because other activities were not particularly interesting to me, neither yoga nor Pilates. So, at the beginning of 2016, I started running at the Zadar Running School. At the age of 50, after just a few months of school, I completed my first half marathon in which I immediately ran under 2 hours, which showed that I probably had a predisposition for it, some kind of natural talent and endurance... I had never done any sport before, I was even exempted from physical education classes at school. However, running infected me, so much so that I decided to go to my first marathon, just to try and see if I could do it and finish it. Now, at the age of 59, I have reached the number of 66 marathons and ultramarathons...
What does an average week for a marathon runner look like? How often do you train and how long do your workouts last? What do you do when you're not running? :)
Of course, there is a lot of training and it must be structured training with intervals, lengths, hundreds. Normally, I deal with tourism and I usually have more work in the season, and before that with booking my accommodation capacities.
What does your ranking currently look like?
I am currently the 1st female ultramarathoner in Europe in the 55 to 59 age category, and 4th in the world in my category when it comes to 12-hour ultramarathons.
Being an (ultra)marathoner is often not easy, and you also point out that you have osteoporosis. How much has running helped, and how much has it perhaps hindered, your body, mostly due to the great effort? What do marathoners and ultramarathoners "suffer" from that the average person doesn't know about?
That's right, I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and I thought I wouldn't be able to run, but my doctor reassured me and gave me the "green light" for running and additional exercises, which are extremely important for osteoporosis, as well as quality supplementation, especially vitamin D. The bone condition is much better, and the osteoporosis has decreased. Interestingly, I discovered it when my ribs broke 5 times out of the blue. Marathon runners usually have problems with the Achilles heel, piriformis, the so-called. patella, etc.
Do you follow a special diet, sleep regimen, or are you a bit more relaxed in other segments of your life?
Compared to before, my diet has changed a bit. There are a lot more raw fruits and vegetables now, but I still have a special craving for sweets after a demanding workout.
Skin care, especially on certain parts of the body, is key to revitalizing and preventing various unpleasant conditions. Olival products can help you with this. Which ones do you particularly enjoy?
After races, I love Olival CBD gel, Magnesium gel and Magnesium spray , Aloe vera gel for revitalization... They are now a permanent part of my post-training and post-race routine. And I really like the Magical Peeling Body Gel and Immortelle face creams, especially the Extra Hydrating Cream .
After Tokyo, other marathon expeditions are being prepared. Which other races are on your list, and which are on your long-term wish list?
The next race is the ultramarathon "from Kaptol to Kaptol" 62 km long (from Zagreb to Čazma), then the marathon in Bratislava. I'll probably run to Iceland and maybe the Great Wall of China by summer, and then Mexico, Brazil, Mumbai, Košice, Antarctica, Dubai, Bangkok, San Francisco...... I'm not stopping until further notice.
