In reply to McHeath:
Whilst I think your criticism is perhaps a little on the harsh side, I do agree with the sentiment, as what I wrote is indeed half way between a barebones newsflash and a more fleshed out news report.
I’d love to have written more, and no doubt will, but there was a certain time pressure - hence why I wrote it earlier in the day. If I had more time, I’d have written more, but in between various meetings, putting my kids to bed and spending time with my wife - I didn’t.
One thing I don’t have any regrets on is focussing on Jasmin, because she is (rightly or wrongly) the story. That isn’t an attempt to detract from the other finishers, it’s just to say that what Jasmin did - and the reason we’re all commenting on it - is because something truly exceptional occurred.
Going to sleep last night it was that I was in awe of - the depth and magnitude of her achievements. The Barkley Marathons are yet another that just leaves me with my mouth wide open, much like her groundbreaking Spine Race in 2019. They seem to suspend disbelief, like superhuman efforts, although this contradicts how human Jasmin always comes across in interviews. She’s modest, down to earth, and lives a relatively normal life with a full time job and a family. These are factors that make the legend of Jasmin all the more legendary.
It is because of this I knew that when the clock was ticking down into those final few minutes, that if anyone could do it - Jasmin could. She just has something else that the the vast majority of the human race doesn’t. A level of ‘try hard’ I find hard to comprehend.
I would usually bandy around a term like ‘the greatest of all time’ but I know that Jasmin would hate it; however, there is no denying the groundbreaking place she has within the history of fell and ultra distance running.
