A printable worksheet for news-based English conversation classes.
Date: 2024/03/25
Difficulty: Intermediate B1
PDF: British woman first to finish world's toughest ultramarathon
| navigate • | • fell down |
| terrain • | • success |
| participants • | • people |
| traditions • | • downhill |
| achievement • | • land |
| collapsed • | • customs |
| descent • | • find way |
| navigate | find way |
| terrain | land |
| participants | people |
| traditions | customs |
| achievement | success |
| collapsed | fell down |
| descent | downhill |
Jasmin Paris, a British runner, made history as the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, USA. She finished the race, known as one of the world's toughest ultramarathons, in just under 60 hours.
The race took place in Frozen Head State Park and is about 100 miles long with a climb and descent of 60,000 feet. Only 20 people have finished this race within the time limit since it changed to 100 miles in 1989.
Jasmin trained hard and felt confident she could finish it. She was so tired after the race that she collapsed. The race, inspired by a prison escape, has unique traditions and requires participants to navigate through challenging, often pathless terrain.
Competitors must also find books along the course and tear out pages as proof of completion. Jasmin's achievement is being hailed as one of the greatest in ultramarathon history.
| A: | Did you hear about the Barkley Marathons this year? |
| B: | No, what happened? |
| A: | Jasmin Paris finished it in 59 hours, 58 minutes and 21 seconds. |
| B: | Wow, over two days! What was the time limit? |
| A: | 60 hours! She did it with seconds to spare! |
| B: | Amazing! Is she the first woman to finish it? |
| A: | Yes! It's such a hard race. She made history! |