Man v Horse Marathon 2024 in Wales

Could a man compete with a horse at a great distance over rough terrain? It turns out, one can do that. And just to prove it we have this unusual event that takes place every year in June in the town of Llanwrtyd Wells in mid-Wales. The "Man versus Horse Marathon" is an annual competition of 22 miles, in which athletes compete with riders on horses.

This event has been held annually in June since 1980 in Neuadd Arms. What was initially a pub bet, has been an annual event ever since. The competition is spectacular. It runs through bogs, river crossings, narrow tracks, and other nature barriers, with some stops for quick health checks.

More than 600 runners—men and women, beginners and pros, and 50 horses and riders —take part annually. Generally, the winner is a horse. But a British cyclist Tim Gould won the competitions in 1989. Cyclist participation was banned in 1993. For the first time, a runner Hugh Lobb won the marathon in 2004. His feat was repeated three years later by Florien Holtinger.