The Ultimete Marathon

[Gregory Matthews]

What is the ultimate marathon?

Hints:

*  While some would give an earlier date, 2003 was when it first began to attract its current level of attention.

*  It is an International marathon that often has participants from 20 or more nations participating.

*  It is not in the United States.

* The 2019 marathon is scheduled for May 29, as it is typically run in May.

*  The 1st places finisher completed the run in 4:34:28 in 2015.

*  For a female finisher in 2016, it was her 920th marathon, who had run 168 marathons in one 12 month period.

 *   Often, about 50 people begin the marathon.  These are both professional runners and others who are simply running for the experience and do not run professionally.

 

 

[Gregory Matthews]

No.

Another hint.

*  People who come form other nations to run in that marathon typically spend three weeks seeing the country.

 

[Gregory Matthews]

France:  No

Hint:

This Ultimate Marathon is organized and run by a government agency.  That government is deeply involved.  The government runs that marathon in a manner that those who come from other countries spend about 3 weeks in that country and do some sightseeing.  That is part of a requirement to compete.

 

 

[Gregory Matthews]

O.K  I could give you time to research it.  But, maybe I should tell you and then you could focus your research on the correct answer.

In my opinion, the ultimate marathon is the Mount Everest Marathon.  The following provids answers to a couple of the hints:

*  With about 50 people starting, you can now understand why.

*  The marathon begins at about 17,000 feet.

*  The three weeks in country is due to two factors:  a)  You have to walk to the starting point at 17,000 feet and that takes  a while.  You do not do it in one day.  b)  The government requires that you spend days at the starting point getting adjusted to the altitude.

NOTE:  The native people who live at the altitude of the starting point have 50% more hemoglobin than do I living  a couple of hundred feet above sea level.

*  No, you do not actually climb to the top of Mt. Everest.

*  The sight-seeing consists of the days you spend walking through the mountains to get to the starting point, and the days you spend at the starting point getting adjusted to the altitude and in looking at the mountains.

For more information, look it up.  It is on the Internet.  You can learn how to participate and actually sign up with companies who for one price will get you to the starting point, provide you with some needed items, such as a sleeping bag and some meals and inform you of other items that you will need to obtain on your own, such as some meals and how to do that.

 

 

[phkrause]

The ultimate challenge

Ioana Barbu just became the first person to finish a grueling series of ultramarathons in a single year. Along the way, she covered 800 miles across the Arctic, mountains, desert and jungle.