An interview with ultra marathon runner and organiser of the UVU Jungle Marathon Shirley Thompson
I first met Shirley Thompson at the 2000 Marathon des Sables. Both of us were relatively inexperienced runners but we’d both decided that a marathon just wasn’t enough and that running the equivalent of six of them across the Sahara desert was a good idea.
Without wanting to roll out clichés, for both of us it was a life changing experience. It launched me into further ultra marathons around the world including the French Alps, Himalayas and the Canadian Arctic and into my current "job" as an adventure sports journalist.
Shirley too took on the challenge of other races and then took the plunge into organising a race in one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on the planet. Taking place in October, the Jungle Marathon covers 240km over six stages through the State of Para rainforest. It’s certainly on my racing wish list but, having really suffered racing in high humidity in Malaysia, I’d approach it with a lot of trepidation.
Check out the interview (above) with Shirley to see what makes her tick, why she runs and for insights about this incredible race.
