Ravi here with a little catch up of some of the more unique, inspiring, and bizarre stories from the world of running you may have missed recently. Today, we have giant hornets stinging marathoners in Japan, a beautiful story of a paralyzed runner coming back to the sport, and quite possibly the world’s dumbest marathon, though I assumed that was all of them. I mean, 42 kilometres? Who does that? Check them out below.
115 Marathon Runners Stung by Hornets (from Japan Today)
Hornets stung 115 men and women taking part in a marathon in Hida, Gifu Prefecture, on Sunday morning. Of the runners stung, aged in their 20s to 60s, eight were taken to hospital to be treated, police said. The others were treated by ambulances called to the scene.
Bionic Exoskeleton Helps Paralyzed Woman Complete Half Marathon (from IB Times)
With the help of a bionic suit, 36-year-old Claire Lomas was able to finish Sunday the Great North Run in England after just five days. Lomas has been paralyzed from her chest down since 2007 when she was in a horseback riding accident.
To add to the impressive feat, Lomas is also 13 weeks pregnant and had to endure morning sickness while she was training and was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to make it to the half marathon.
The World’s Most Idiotic Marathon (from the Telegraph)
The annual Marathon du Medoc is a truly Gallic event. Participants must tackle the hallowed distance, but refreshments are the sort you’d expect at a lavish party hosted by Gerard Depardieu: enough wine to fill a swimming pool, towers of mussels, and even ice cream. It’s the south of France in September too, so expect it to be hot (the forecast for the weekend is for temperatures of up to 32C). Oh, and fancy dress is compulsory.
-Ravi Singh (@ravimatsingh)
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