Running a marathon is not easy for anyone. If there is no proper practice, then after some time the breath begins to swell. Although, there are many people who run several hundred kilometers in one go, but among them there are very few people who would complete this race in a tunnel in total darkness. Such hair-raising marathon is being organized in England since the year 2019.

Named ‘The Tunnel’, this marathon is held in Somerset County in such a dense dark tunnel, which was once used as a railway track. In 2013, this tunnel was converted into a cycling track. This longest tunnel in England is used by Mark Cockbain to organize the marathon every year. Mark, who has run ultra marathons many times, organizes 334 km long marathon in this tunnel a little more than one and a half km long. About 40 runners participating in the race have to complete the race in a total of 55 hours. In this marathon, along with the physical ability of the runner, his mental strength is also tested while running in the dark.

How tough the race is can be gauged from the fact that only two contestants were able to complete the race in the initial edition. There is no long fixed route. After running one and a half km, the runner has to turn back and run again on the same route and complete 100 such rounds in 55 hours. All this happens in total darkness. Small lights are lit in the tunnel from 5 am to 10 pm, so that pedestrians or bike riders can pass, but after 10 pm those lights also turn off, and the runner is left with only his head torch. . Sometimes the situation becomes so dangerous that the runner starts getting delusions of seeing strange things around him.

Foyster, 56, says she was ready to finish the race, but by the time she reached the last 15 km she didn’t understand what was happening to her. They lost their way. She started walking instead of running, but still she did not understand in which direction she was going. After a while she felt as if she had gone completely blind. Many other people who have participated in this marathon have also had similar experiences.

Mark, who started this marathon, says that he started this race only so that people can break their limits and get excited. They charge an entry fee of around Rs 20,000 from the participants. Race rules are so strict that participants cannot take headphones, support sticks or any other aids with them.