#Fitness | 8 MIN READ

5 Influential Marathon Runners Who Keep Inspiring Others

For marathoners, nothing compares to the feeling of elation that comes from extra blood pumped by the heart to all parts of the body. But there are also marathon greats who inspire marathoners every day. Here, are five such people from India and abroad.

Haile Gebrselassie

Image courtesy: IAAF

Widely regarded as the greatest distance runner in history, he has broken an astounding 61 Ethiopian national records and set 27 world records. Gebrselassie won two Olympic gold medals and four World Championship titles. This is along with three consecutive wins at Dubai Marathon and Berlin Marathon.

Paula Radcliffe

Image courtesy: IAAF

This British marathoner is a three-time winner of the London Marathon and New York Marathon, besides winning the 2002 Chicago Marathon. Radcliffe holds women’s marathon world record for 15 years (2002 to present). Among the numerous accolades, she has received are, being made Member of the Order of the British Empire, and in 2010, inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame.

Rosa Mota

Image courtesy: Achetron

Regarded by some as the greatest female marathon runner of all time, she was the first sportswoman from Portugal to win Olympic gold.Mota had the unique distinction of being the European, World, and Olympic champion at the same time.

Milind Soman

Image courtesy: ScoopWhoop

The 51-year old swimmer-turned-model-turned-actor-turned-runner-turned-triathlete is now the Ultra Man of India. This is after winning the 2017 Ultraman Florida, an endurance race, which he completed while barefoot.Soman also won the gruelling Ironman 2015 race in Zurich, Switzerland.

Arun Bhardwaj

Image courtesy: Mobiefit

The first internationally acclaimed ultra marathon runner from India, Bhardwaj placed himself and India on the global map by winning the George Archer 6 Day Race in South Africa.He successfully completed the Bad water Ultra marathon in Death Valley, California, one of the toughest races in the world, according to National Geographic.Bhardwaj has also the winner of 72-hour running challenge at the Icarus Florida Ultra Fest in 2015.