71-Year-Old Val Muskett Completes 236 km Ultramarathon

Val Muskett, a 71-year-old ultramarathon runner, recently completed an impressive total of 236.21 km over a 48-hour period at the Hagley Park ultramarathon in Christchurch. Despite challenging weather conditions, Muskett demonstrated remarkable endurance, achieving significant milestones along the way.

The ultramarathon took place from March 1 to 3, 2024, and featured various events, including 24-hour, 48-hour, and even six-day races. Muskett focused on the 48-hour event, where she set out to achieve three personal goals. She successfully ran 100 km in 13 hours 56 minutes 5 seconds and completed 100 miles (approximately 160.9 km) in 25 hours 23 minutes 2 seconds.

Muskett faced extreme weather during the event, which included rain and cold temperatures. She described her strategy for tackling the race as a mental exercise, breaking the distance into manageable stages. “I just batten the hatches down because the weather was atrocious,” she explained. “It was about mind over matter, just staying out there.”

Accompanied by her husband and assistant, John Muskett, Val managed to maintain her focus throughout the event. Despite the difficult conditions, she noted that the organization of the ultramarathon was exceptionally professional. “This was without doubt the best organized event we’ve ever been to,” John Muskett remarked. “Nobody complained, and I guarantee you, if they hadn’t been running through such terrible weather, everything would have been fine.”

Val Muskett, who is visually impaired, noted that her inability to see clocks or wear a watch means she must remain highly concentrated while running. “I tend not to talk to anybody when I’m running,” she said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining her focus during long distances.

Muskett regularly trains at the beach near her home in Hampden and stated that it usually takes her about a week to recover from an ultramarathon. As for her future plans, she expressed interest in participating in the same event next year, hinting at the possibility of attempting the full six-day ultramarathon.

With her recent accomplishment, Val Muskett continues to inspire athletes of all ages, proving that passion and dedication can lead to extraordinary achievements, regardless of age.