This 70-year-old Runner Finishes a 100-Mile Race – And Beats the Clock by 6 Seconds!

If you are an avid runner, you may have already heard about this uplifting story. If not, well here goes a news that will surely brighten your day.

Gunhild Swanson recently made headlines as she became the first 70-year-old woman to finish a challenging 100-mile ultramarathon.

The grandmother gained popularity as the oldest runner to ever join and complete a running competition of such a scale.

Both the runners and spectators of the 2015 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run were thrilled beyond measure as they watched Swanson cross the finish line – exactly six seconds before the official 30-hour cut off. Later on, she was awarded a bronze belt buckle.

On her iRunFar interview, the old lady described how she felt while beating the clock “I must have had the biggest smile, I swear. It was just so exciting. Everyone was shouting. The sheer noise of having everyone in the whole stadium shouting for me, it was just overwhelming.”

You can watch the video here:

This was truly an amazing achievement especially when you consider the fact that Swanson actually went off course during the middle of the race. Eventually, she was able to get back on her track and impressively finished the last 1.3 miles of the race in just 16 minutes.

Rob Krar, the official winner, even joined Swanson for the last mile, providing some much-needed encouragement.

One of those who watched the race said “It was the most inspiring thing… ever seen in running.”

Swanson has been running races for years. In fact, she said she has joined over 260 marathons and ultra races in the past.

As they say in racing, finishing the race is always better than not finishing at all. May Gunhild Swanson’s story serve as an inspiration for anyone who needs some motivation in life.

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H/T: Mashable