Back in January, amputee ultrarunner Jacky Hunt-Broersma announced plans to break another world record. The goal: run a marathon a day for 100 days in a row, a total of 2620 miles, breaking the current female record of 95 days. And this week Hunt-Broersma hit her halfway mark by completing her 50th marathon in 50 days.
In her social media announcement post from January, Hunt-Broersma, who recently moved from North Carolina to Arizona, mentioned that she is using this record attempt as the base training for the Moab 240, an endurance race that travels through some of Utah’s most challenging terrain.
“I’m hoping this will inspire others to get out of their comfort zone and try something new and truly see what you are capable of,” Hunt-Broersma wrote in the post. “You always got more to give. It doesn’t have to be as crazy. It just needs to push you a little out of your comfort zone”
When Hunt-Broersma had her leg amputated after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2002, she was not even a fan of running. Just five years ago, Hunt-Broersma began her running career by signing up for her first 5K in 2016. As she continues with the sport, she aims to inspire people and empower other amputees. That is why she has decided to use her current record attempt to also raise money for Amputee Blade Runners, a nonprofit organization that provides high-activity prostheses for amputees.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be supported by some really wonderful brands that have helped me along the way, but not everyone is this fortunate,” Hunt-Broersma wrote. “Running prosthetics are super expensive and not every amputee will have the opportunity to experience running as I have… I would love to give running opportunities to others amputees like me.”
Hunt-Broersma broke her first record back in the spring of 2020, when she became the first amputee to run 100 miles on a treadmill for the Aravaipa Strong Virtual Race 100-mile category. At the time she was training for a 100-mile race that was canceled due to the pandemic and had only run around 10 miles on a treadmill.
“Running’s made me really grateful because every time I put on my blade and I’m out on those trails I’m like, ‘Man, this is amazing that I can actually do these things,” Hunt-Broersma told us back in 2021. “I’m out here. I can actually put in these miles. It has definitely made me look at the world differently and just appreciate it.”
Cover photo of Jacky Hunt-Broersma courtesy of Jacky Hunt-Broersma
