Man vs. Horse: The Wildest Race in Wales Where Humans Take on Equine Speed
- Diego Tobias
- Mar 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 11
In the heart of Wales, there’s a race unlike any other—a competition that pits human endurance against equine power, challenging runners and riders alike in a grueling 22-mile battle through rugged terrain. It’s called the Man vs. Horse Marathon, and it’s been held every year since 1980 in the small town of Llanwrtyd Wells.
At first glance, it seems absurd—how could a person ever hope to outrun a horse over such a long distance? But over the years, humans have actually won on multiple occasions, proving that when it comes to extreme endurance, raw horsepower isn’t always an advantage.
This is the incredible story of how a pub debate turned into one of the most fascinating endurance races on the planet.
How a Pub Argument Created a World-Famous Race
The origins of Man vs. Horse are as simple as they are bizarre. It all started at the Neuadd Arms Hotel, a cozy pub in Llanwrtyd Wells, where locals often gathered for drinks and friendly debates.
One day in 1979, the pub’s landlord, Gordon Green, overheard a discussion between two men. The topic?
"Could a human outrun a horse over long distances?"
Most people would have left the question unanswered. But not Gordon Green. Instead, he decided to settle the debate once and for all—by organizing an actual race between humans and horses.
Thus, in 1980, the first Man vs. Horse Marathon was born.
How the Race Works: Course, Rules, and Strategy
The Man vs. Horse Marathon isn’t just a straight road race—it’s an absolute beast of a course.
The Course: A Brutal 22-Mile Challenge
While a standard marathon is 26.2 miles, this race is slightly shorter at 22 miles. But don’t be fooled—the terrain more than makes up for the missing miles.
Runners and horses navigate a mix of trails, open fields, hills, and streams.
Massive elevation changes make pacing crucial—both for humans and their equine competitors.
The course includes narrow paths, muddy bogs, and steep climbs, making it a true test of endurance and strategy.
It’s a race that requires not just speed, but intelligence. The best competitors—both human and horse—know how to conserve energy for the second half, where the real challenge begins.
How It’s Run: The Staggered Start
To make things fair, horses don’t start at the same time as the runners.
The human runners begin first.
The horse-and-rider teams start 15 minutes later.
This gap allows for a more competitive race, ensuring that it’s not just a one-sided blowout.
Even with the delay, horses almost always catch up early in the race. But as fatigue sets in, the tables start to turn—which is why some years, humans have actually beaten the fastest horses.
Why Humans Can Compete with Horses Over Long Distances
At first glance, this race might seem like a joke. After all, horses are faster, stronger, and built for running. So why don’t they win every time?
The answer lies in endurance physiology.
Horses are faster—but they overheat easily.
While horses can reach speeds of 40-50 mph, their large bodies struggle to dissipate heat over long distances.
In contrast, humans have sweat glands all over their bodies, allowing them to cool down efficiently.
Horses tire from carrying weight.
Every horse in the race has a rider, adding extra weight that slows them down over time.
Humans don’t have that burden, meaning they can keep moving without the added strain.
The terrain favors endurance over speed.
Unlike a smooth track or road, the hilly Welsh countryside forces runners and riders to adjust their pacing constantly.
Over time, humans’ steady endurance wins out over raw speed.
These factors make Man vs. Horse one of the few races in the world where humans actually stand a chance.
Has a Human Ever Beaten a Horse?
For 25 years, the answer was no. Horses won every single race.
But then, in 2004, something incredible happened.
2004 – Huw Lobb Becomes the First Human Champion
British runner Huw Lobb made history by beating all the horses, completing the course in 2 hours and 5 minutes—just over two minutes ahead of the fastest horse.
This wasn’t just a fluke. Lobb had trained specifically for this type of race, using his experience as a high-level cross-country runner to pace himself perfectly.
For his win, he took home the race’s long-standing jackpot prize of £25,000, which had been increasing year after year because no human had ever claimed it.
Other Times Humans Have Won
Since Lobb’s victory, two more runners have managed to defeat the horses:
2007 – Florian Holzinger (Germany) won in 2:20:30
2022 – Ricky Lightfoot (UK) won in 2:22:23
Each time, the winning strategy was the same—conserve energy early, attack in the second half, and let the horse riders tire themselves out.
The Prize Money Jackpot: A Growing Incentive
To encourage runners, the race organizers introduced a jackpot prize for the first human to beat the horses.
The prize started at £500.
Each year no runner won, the jackpot increased by another £500.
By the time Huw Lobb won in 2004, the prize had reached £25,000.
Now, with humans winning once every decade or so, the jackpot remains a huge incentive for top endurance runners to take on the challenge.
What It’s Like to Run Against a Horse
Running in Man vs. Horse is unlike any other marathon.
The first half of the race is all about maintaining pace and conserving energy.
By mile 12-15, horses start slowing down, and runners who paced themselves well begin closing the gap.
The final 5-6 miles are a battle of fatigue vs. endurance—with some runners pulling off upsets and finishing ahead of the fastest horse.
For many runners, just finishing the race feels like a victory. The event is famous for its friendly, laid-back atmosphere, and runners often share post-race beers with the riders they just competed against.
Why This Race Captures the Imagination
The Man vs. Horse Marathon isn’t just a race—it’s a celebration of human endurance, quirky traditions, and the wild unpredictability of nature.
✔ It proves that humans are built for endurance.✔ It keeps alive an old-school, no-frills spirit of competition.✔ It brings together elite athletes, casual runners, and equestrians in a way no other event does.
In a world full of standard marathons and predictable races, Man vs. Horse stands alone—a reminder that sometimes, the strangest ideas make for the best challenges.
So, next time you think about signing up for a race, ask yourself:
Would you rather run against people… or race against a horse?
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