There’s a marathon where humans compete horses: Here’s all you need to know
It’s a no-brainer that horses run faster than humans. However, some people However, some people think they’re faster than a horse! This debate gave birth to ‘The Man vs Horse Marathon’ in Llanwrtyd Well, Wales, United Kingdom. Here, runners and horse riders compete to see who can win the 22-mile course. Since 1980, the race has been held annually, and some people have even won against horses! But where did it all begin? That’s a fascinating story indeed.
The backstory
The story of how the marathon began is unusual. Gordon Green, a landlord in Wales, overheard a conversation between two men at his local pub. One contended that a man could travel as fast as a horse in rural areas. The other man argued. Following a heated debate, Green decided to hold the first ‘Man vs Horse’ competition in 1980. And since then, it has become an annual tradition at the Neuadd Arms in Llanwrtyd Wells. Interestingly, the marathon saw many human winners too! Ann King, a local, became the first woman to run in the race in 1981. In 1985, the marathon committee also allowed cyclists to compete. This will probably tip the scales in favour of the man? Probably yes.
The Man vs Horse Marathon: Rules and rewards
This is unlike any other race you’ve ever seen. It begins with a long, slow climb that includes river crossings. The runners have a 15-minute head start before the horses begin striding, not to give humans an advantage but for their safety. The times are adjusted at the end to determine who completed the course in the shortest time.
Horse safety is also taken into consideration. Horses are inspected by a veterinarian halfway through the race. This helps ensure they are healthy and in good enough shape to finish the race. However, in 2009, there was a debate over whether or not the horse’s time spent in vet check should be deducted. The runners voted unanimously not to remove the horse’s time. The organisers agreed, and it has become a standard practise to allow horses time in vet check without penalty.
But what exactly does the winner receive? Initially, the prize money was set at 500 € and it was decided that the prize money will be increased by 1000 € each year until the first human winner wins it. Finally, when the first person won the race, a reward of 25,000 € was awarded!
The humans who won against horses!
Horses are unquestionably faster than humans. Since the race course was redesigned in 1982, humans have won the marathon only thrice! And it took 25 years for the race to see its first human winner.
Huw Lobb, a cross-country marathon runner, won the race in 2004 in 2 hours and 5 minutes. He outpaced the fastest horse by only 2 minutes. Three years later, an athlete named Florian Holzinger won the cup by narrowly defeating the fastest horse. In 2022, Ricky Lightfoot, a British runner, won the marathon, becoming only the third human to do so.