The Garpenberg Zinc Mine in Sweden stretches to 1,120 meters (3,675 feet) below sea level, and even further from the earth's surface. The company that owns the mine, Boliden, thought "Hey! let's host a foot race down there!" And the idea of the World's Deepest Marathon was born. It happened last October, when 55 runners took off, wearing helmets with lanterns, and ran 26 miles in the darkness. The temperature stayed at 75°F and the humidity was at 72%. No electronic devices were allowed, so they ran in silence as well as darkness. To make 26 miles, they ran from one end of the mine to the other and back, eleven times.
James Mason hadn't run a marathon in ten years, but he was intrigued by the idea and entered. He had never been inside a mine, though. The race was very different, because there was no music, and no scenery- just gray walls every inch. Mason was amazed to find himself crossing the final finish line first! He tells us about his experience at The Guardian. -via Metafilter
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