The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is “the world’s oldest and most prestigious 100-mile trail race,” at least according to the opening line of its official website. It spans just over 100 miles of various terrain throughout central California, and finishing it is quite the feat of human endurance. In the race’s history that dates back more than 40 years, no woman older than 70 had ever finished it. That is, until, this year.
Gunhild Swanson, a 71-year-old grandmother, finished the ultra-marathon in 29 hours, 59 minutes, and 54 seconds on Sunday, reaching the finish line just 6 seconds shy of the 30-hour cutoff to win a coveted bronze belt buckle. It’s an incredible accomplishment, made even more impressive considering that she accidentally ran off-course at one point, which added a few miles to the length of her run.
“At about mile 88, my pacer and I made a terrible rookie mistake and came up the trail,” said Swanson. “To the left, there were a couple runners and (we) followed them rather than looking for the markers. We should have turned right. We got all the way up a steep hill over a mile and a half or so and had to come back down. So, I got three bonus miles.”
That very well could have been a costly mistake, but all’s well that ends well. And on the plus side, she got to see an extra part of the country that the rest of the field didn’t get to see. So, win-win?
(Via irunfar)
