Photo of Jack Lyons of Ireland in action in the Jungle Marathon 100km
The Jungle Marathon 2009, organised by Shirley Thompson, concluded on 17 October 2009.
Ryan Sandes, one of South Africas top ultra runners, won the 200km stage race in 26 hours and 33 minutes, taking the course record for the fastest time since the race began. Salvador Redondo from Spain finished second and Mike Wolff from the USA took third spot. Joint first place in the female division went to Nikki Kimball (USA) and Tracey Garneau (Canada), while third place went to Lowri Morgan of Wales.
Once again, the race was a unique and brutal test of endurance in the Brazilian Amazon, with dozens being forced to withdraw. There were a number of medical evacuations on the first day and competitors encountered tarantulas, boa constrictors with the circumference of a grown man's thigh, and even jaguars.
This event is an extreme race and should not be undertaken lightly - it must surely be the toughest footrace, or certainly the toughest stage race, on earth. A huge congratulations to the Irish competitors: Jack Lyons who opted to complete the 100km event and Sean McMurtry, Paul Haughney, Diarmuid Smyth and Paddy Craig who finished the 200km race.
Copyright 2009-2010 UltraRunning Ireland. All rights reserved.