Mum Expresses Milk During ‘Britain's Most Brutal Race', Still Wins In Record-Breaking Time
Published
| Last updated
Featured Image Credit: Montane Spine Race / Jen O'Neill
A nursing mum has smashed the record for a gruelling cross-country race, becoming the first-ever woman to win the race outright, and even had time to stop to express milk for her child.
Jasmin Paris, 35, won the 268-mile Montane Spine Race with a time of 83 hours and 12 minutes, obliterating both the previous men's and women's course records.
The Spine Race, first run in 2012, sees runners complete the full distance of the Pennine Way in hilly, winter conditions, carrying their kit throughout and sleeping only when they choose too. It is has been dubbed 'Britain's Most Brutal' race.
Vet Jasmin, who took a break from completing her PhD to take part in the race, gave birth to her daughter, Rowan, just 14 months ago.
Jasmin, who is still breastfeeding and expressed milk at checkpoints, was reunited with her daughter at the finish line.
Mrs Paris' sponsor, inov-8, said her achievement was "one of the greatest stories" in the sport.
The moment #inov8 ultra-runner @JasminKParis was reunited with her baby daughter at the end of her record breaking 83-hour run to win @TheSpineRace
Rowan is 14 months old and the incredible Jasmin expressed milk for her at checkpoints during the race
:point_right: https://t.co/YVk11hqeIe pic.twitter.com/fimXn2wYEF
- inov-8 (@inov_8) January 17, 2019
Speaking to BBC Scotland, the inspirational mum said: "I had thought I would have stopped breast feeding by this point and tried when Rowan was one, but over Christmas she got two viruses and I had to go back to feeding her multiple times throughout the night to soothe her.
"Although my milk production diminished throughout the race, I did express at four out of the five checkpoints."
Jasmin, who only slept for three hours during the entire race, added: "The first night was the hardest for me mentally because I was away from my daughter, but as the race went on it got easier as I got used to being away from her."
Lee Procter, inov-8 ambassador team manager, said: "All of us here at inov-8 are so proud of Jasmin. She is not a professional, full-time athlete, but instead a down-to-earth, modest mum-of-one with an incredible talent and phenomenal strength, both physically and mentally.
Loading…
"What she has achieved in this race in beating everyone of both sexes, setting a new overall course record and expressing milk at checkpoints for her 14-month-old baby is one of the greatest stories in the history of ultra-running as a sport."
Jasmine, we bow down to you!