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Runner Adds to Her Own Record for Consecutive Marathons

When amputee athlete Jacky Hunt-Broersma says her mantra is, “I can do hard things,” she’s not kidding — the amputee athlete has run 104 marathons in as many days, all using a carbon-fiber prosthesis.

Hunt-Broersma (46) completed this epic trek Saturday, near her suburban Phoenix home, setting an unofficial World Record.

“What a journey,” she tweeted.

South Africa’s native woman, born in South Africa, lost her left leg below its knee due to a rare form of cancer. The record-breaking attempt garnered worldwide attention.

Brick Runners, an organization that supports athletes who raise money for charities, even designed a Jacky-inspired Lego-style character complete with one of her favorite T-shirts, which reads: “Strong Has Many Forms.”

Hunt-Broersma raised $67,000 for fellow amputee blade runners to get expensive prostheses. Health insurance typically doesn’t cover the cost, which can exceed $10,000.

Since mid-January she has covered the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) classic marathon distance on either a loop course near her Gilbert home or an indoor treadmill.

Her original goal was to run 100 marathons in 100 days so she’d beat a record of 95 set in 2020 by Alyssa Amos Clark, a nondisabled runner from Bennington, Vermont, who did it as a pandemic coping strategy. But last month, after nondisabled British runner Kate Jayden unofficially broke Clark’s record with 101 marathons in 101 days, Hunt-Broersma realized she’d need to run at least 102.

She spoke with The Associated Press to say that she hopes her quest will inspire others, regardless of physical limitations.

Guinness World Records spokesperson Amanda Marcus said the Britain-based organization was aware of Hunt-Broersma’s attempt, and that it would take 12 to 15 weeks to review the evidence before the record can be confirmed.

Guinness lists the men’s record for consecutive daily marathons as 59, set in 2019 by Enzo Caporaso of Italy.

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