Veronique Bourbeau beats the men in epic 444km Coast 2 Coast ultramarathon in Malaysia as ‘physical and mental melt together’
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Veronique Bourbeau has never taken a particular interest in women’s empowerment, but when she crossed the line this week in the 444km Coast 2 Coast (C2C) ultramarathon in Malaysia in first place, ahead of all the men, and in record time, she was quietly pleased with the achievement.
“I can feel they don’t like being beaten by a woman, especially a woman who is older than them,” said Bourbeau, 46. “It feels good.”
Starting on the west coast in Lumut and finishing on the east coast in Kuala, Bourbeau finished in 98 hours 27 minutes, eclipsing the previous record of 105:54, set by David Spence.
“I never expected to do so well,” the Singapore-based Canadian said. “C2C gave me the opportunity to be my best self. I am now a different person to who I was a week ago.”
As Bourbeau reached the final 60km she began to run around an 8km per hour pace, something she never thought possible.