All of Iceland watched as Elísabet Margeirsdóttir completed the Ultra Gobi, a 400-kilometer run through China’s Gobi Desert recently. Elísabet was the first woman to complete the race out of 60 contestants. She ran for 96 hours, both under the desert sun and in freezing temperatures, and she slept only four hours total at the rest stops. Elísabet was, furthermore, the first woman in the world to complete the race in under 100 hours. Around 60% of the runners completed the run this time.
The changes in temperature in the desert were dramatic and it went to below 10 degrees Celcius during these 96 hours." There are many challenges during such a long run, often in difficult conditions. There were resting stations every 40 kilometres where runners could consult with a team of doctors who provided the necessary treatments. The highest altitude during my run was at 4,000 meters and I had to cross a river with a strong current. But it was the cold that proved to be the biggest challenge," said Elísabet who is planning on taking it easy in the next few days.
Elísabet has been working for a while now as adjunct lecturer in nutrition at the Faculty of Health Promotion, Sport and Leisure Studies at the University of Iceland's School of Education. Kolbrún Þ. Pálsdóttir, dean of the School of Education met with Elísabet upon her return with a bouquet of flowers from her colleagues.
The University of Iceland congratulates Elísabet on the magnificent achievement.
