Jacky Hunt-Broersma, amputee, says that her mantra is “I can do difficult things.” She’s not lying when she says that Jacky Hunt-Broersma has run 104 marathons in a matter of days using a carbon fiber prosthesis.
Hunt-Broersma (46), completed the epic journey Saturday near her suburban Phoenix home, setting an unofficial record.
She tweeted, “What a journey!”
After beginning her record attempt Jan. 17, the South African native lost her left leg below her knee to rare cancer. She gained global attention and huge social media followers.
Brick Runners is an organization that supports athletes raising money for charities. They even created a Jacky-inspired Lego-style character with one of her favorite T shirts: “Strong has Many Forms.”
Hunt-Broersma also raised over $67,000 to assist fellow amputee blade runners. The cost of prostheses can be more than $10,000, and health insurance doesn’t usually cover it.
Since mid-January she has covered the classic marathon distance of 26.2-miles (42.2 km) either on a loop course near her home in Gilbert Arizona or on a treadmill indoors.
Her original goal was 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days to beat the record of Alyssa Amos, a nondisabled runner who ran it as a pandemic strategy. Hunt-Broersma realized that she needed to run at least 101 marathons after Kate Jayden, a nondisabled British runner, broke Clark’s record of 101 in 101 days.
She spoke with The Associated Press to say that she hopes her quest will inspire others, regardless of their physical limitations, to work hard.
Amanda Marcus, spokesperson for Guinness World Records, stated that Hunt-Broersma was aware of the attempt and that it would take 12-15 weeks to review all evidence before the record could be confirmed.
Guinness lists Enzo Caporaso, an Italian man who set the record for consecutive daily marathons for men at 59.
