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Man Completes Ultra-Marathon In -25C Wearing Jeans And Smart Shoes

Man Completes Ultra-Marathon In -25C Wearing Jeans And Smart Shoes

The only marathon he was dressed for was Six Nations weekend in the gastropub

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

A 47-year-old British man has completed a 100 mile long ultra-marathon across a frozen lake in Outer Mongolia in temperatures reaching -25C wearing his work shoes and a pair of jeans.

Some people really like pushing themselves to the limit, but this is ridiculous.

In fairness, Peter Messervy-Gross - the intrepid athlete in question - didn't set out to complete this treacherous race dressed like he was off to watch the Six Nations, the airline that flew him out to Mongolia lost all of his special kit.

Let's start at the beginning, shall we?

Peter, a kiwi who lives in Jersey, decided that he fancied a trip to Mongolia, and decided to trek 100 miles across a frozen lake called Khövsgöl Nuur (don't ask how that is pronounced) whilst he was out there.

Rat Race Adventure Sports

The race is called the 'Mongol 100' and is organised by Rat Race Adventure Sports. Participants can skate, walk, or run. You've just got to brave the temperature and make it the full way.

The father of three had spent ages planning his trip, looking at all sorts of high-tech gear that he could use to help him complete the endurance race. However, somewhere between Heathrow and Ulaanbaatar - Mongolia's capital city - Russian airline Aeroflot managed to lose his luggage.

Peter explained: "When we arrived in Mongolia my large holdall was missing but everyone seemed pretty confident it would turn up, so I wasn't worried.

"At that point we had two days until race day."

Rat Race Adventure Sports

The race organisers suggested that he buy some proper shoes, but unfortunately they don't sell any shoes larger than a size 11 in Mongolia. Peter is a size 13. Hard lines.

It was only as he arrived at the lake that he realised that he was going to have to do it in whatever he had. That meant a pair of brown leather brogues, and a pair of blue jeans.

He continued: "It was a heartbreaking moment for me, very gutting, because you can't really run 100 miles across a frozen lake in brogues.

"I had a toothbrush on me but no deodorant, toilet roll, soap or wipes."

Rat Race Adventure Sports

"But the other competitors were amazing, offering up stuff for me to use, which was incredible because it meant by giving things to me, they were worse off.

"My friend Marcus gave me a set of thermals, another guy gave me some socks, someone else handed me a balaclava - I was a walking charity shop."

Rat Race Adventure Sports

Despite all the odds being stacked against him, he completed the race in four days. That's about a marathon each day.

There were issues, however. Peter said: "When you run a race like that your feet swell because you're on them for so long - I literally became too big for my boots.

"It did get pretty uncomfortable, my feet blistered really badly and especially on my little toes, which was quite painful.

"But I just wanted to keep plodding along - I couldn't really feel the cold in my feet during the day, it was more discomfort than anything else."

Rat Race Adventure Sports

Despite that, he says he had a great time out there.

"My emotions were all over the place during the challenge. I experienced the highest highs, whooping, hugging and high-fiving people - and the lowest lows, when I was alone, spent and shedding tears because of how tough it was.

"If the sun went behind a cloud, the wind came up or it was reaching sunset, the temperature just absolutely plummeted and it was freezing cold.

"Walking in my jeans and brogues wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I didn't want to give up or hold Marcus back."

Rat Race Adventure Sports

"When I crossed that finish line I was elated. I genuinely didn't think I was going to be able to do the whole thing without my kit - maybe just a little bit of day one or something.

"My shoes held up surprisingly well - I'm just a bit allergic to putting the things on now.

"We were at the airport the following day after finishing the event - and my luggage turned up 15 minutes before check-in for our return home..."

Typical.

Featured Image Credit: Rat Race Adventure Sports

Topics: SPORT, News, Inspirational, Interesting, sport news, UK