Horses are very fast animals. The average domestic horse can achieve a running speed of 30 mph, while some racehorses and wild horses can go over 50 mph. In comparison, humans lag behind. The top speed ever reached by a person is 27.8 mph, briefly achieved by sprinter Usain Bolt in 2009. However, recently, a fast man defied expectations and beat a horse in the annual Man v Horse race.
Man v Horse race in Wales, UK
Typically for races, horses face off against each other in such events as the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes. However, in the annual Man v Horse race in Wales, United Kingdom, humans joined the mix, as detailed by Runner’s World. More than 1,000 runners and 60 horses raced each other — and for only the 4th time in the event’s history, a human came out on top.
Runner Daniel Connolly edged out a horse to win the race
Despite having the disadvantage of running on two legs versus four for a horse, bipedal runner Daniel Connolly won the race. With a time of 2:24:38, he edged out a horse named DNS Ronaldo, (2:34:25), which was ridden by Kate Atkinson. The fastest time for a female at the race was Suzy Whatmough, who completed the course in 3:08:24.
In an interview with the BBC, Bob Greenough, a race organizer, said, “It’s the first time the event has been won two years in a row by a runner, and only the fourth time overall in 42 years of the race.”
Race was on a mountainous 22-mile course
The mountainous 22-mile course posed quite a challenge for runners, horses, and riders. It features many rises and drops in elevation, rock shambles, boggy marshes, and stream crossings.
The Man v Horse race was first held in 1980 — and it was born out of a debate at a local pub at the Neuadd Arms Hotel. And the debate was, “Who can run faster over mountainous terrain: a human or a horse?”
With four legs and long strides, horses, unsurprisingly usually win the races. Their strides can reach over 12 paces, and even when cantering, move at a pace of around 15 mph. And for a flat-out gallop, they can go much faster.
However, there are some situations where humans have an advantage. According to Mike Thomas, another race organizer, warmer weather is better for the runners. Conversely, he said that “horses struggle in hot weather.” The recent race had temperatures in the mid-70s with high humidity, which is unusually warm for Wales.
Runner missed out on World Championships but is happy to beat a horse
Connolly shared his thoughts on Instagram following his victory. While he recently missed out on the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, beating a horse was a nice consolation prize.
“Since I started running, I’ve had an eye on doing Man v Horse one day. As I just missed out on the World Champs in Austria, I was looking for an inspiring event to keep the fire burning hot. The timing was right.”
He added, “Very happy to have beaten the horses but also to have shared a wonderful day with my family.”
As noted by race organizer Bob Greenough, this is the second year in a row that a human beat a horse. Last year’s race was won by Ricky Lightfoot, who claimed that he had been awake for 29 hours before the event.
Nonetheless, a human winning the race is a rarity. The first time was in 1989, nine years after the race’s inception. However, that was when bicycles were allowed. The first runner to win was Huw Lobb in 2004, crossing the finish line on foot ahead of the equines.
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Header image: doktorob via YouTube
I’m Mark Putzer, and my passion for animals and all things nature is a life-long love affair. Growing up in Wisconsin, I had many cherished memories of hiking, skiing, and enjoying the abundant wildlife in the Badger State.
My passion for animals led me to marine biology research for my studies at the University of Wisconsin. I researched the behavior and communication of humpback whales around Hawaii and Orca Whales around the San Juan Islands of Washington State. The experience of being close to these massive and magnificent creatures is amazing. Later, I taught outdoor education to children in California — passing along my knowledge of animals and nature to the curious minds of the next generation. I also love pets. This includes a Labrador Retriever dog named “Molly” when I was a kid — and now, an adventurous tabby cat named “Rosy.”
I’m here to share the wonders of the animal kingdom with you. Whether it’s a cherished pet at home or an animal out in the wild, there are many unique stories and interesting information to share on Weird Animal News! Enjoy!
