photo: Courtesy of Jozef Rajchl
Rajchl sets world record
SLOVAK ultra marathoner Jozef Rajchl, 24, reached his goal. On August 13 he arrived in Tarifa, Spain, becoming the fastest man to run across Europe. The feat earns Rajchl an entry into The Guinness Book of World Records.
During his 59 days on the road, Rajchl ran 5,293 kilometres. He started the project in Helsinki, Finland, on June 15, crossing 15 countries until stopping in Tarifa.
"It's unbelievable but it's over. Apart from exhaustion I don't feel much - not even my feet," Rajchl quipped after finishing the last few metres of his journey.
Every day Rajchl ran between 45 to 120 kilometres, often in extreme climate conditions. Problems with his Achilles' tendon that started in Latvia switched to pain in his lumbar joints in the Italian Alps.
Rajchl went through four pairs of running shoes and suffered a stolen pair in France.
As Markíza TV reported, Rajchl will continue trying to break world records. The Slovak athlete plans to run the length of the Great Wall in China and across the African Sahara.
Compiled by Spectator staff from press reports
