Photo Credit: Marco Bottegelli
Manika Gamble recently became the first Black woman to conquer the Namibia 155-mile race!
ESSENCE reports the seasoned athlete succeeded despite the pain she endured running through the desert.
Gamble has been marathon running for 12 years and is passionate about putting sneakers to the pavement. She also enjoys achieving crazy feats. Running mega marathons with beautiful scenery throughout the world fills her cup.
In this case, she was required to run 155 miles in the Namibia desert, the oldest desert in the world. Furthermore, the race is self-supported.
“It’s quite the transition in distance from sprinting, but the joy I feel is immeasurable,” Manika shared. “Ultra-marathons get me out into nature where I can feel the fresh air and instantly feel home while running.”
Furthermore, she told ESSENCE, “I was inspired when I saw a video on YouTube that made the Namibia race look so beautiful and challenging. It combined everything I wanted to take on myself, so I decided to go for it.”
Moreover, she shared the pain she endured during the race.
“The gators I had on my sneakers broke on the first day, so my feet were blistered on the first day, which was very challenging for me to get through. I could not prepare for that pain,” Gamble stated.
The runner stated that during the race, she told herself she would never do it again, but after a couple of days, she changed her mind. Manika is now looking forward to her next challenge.
Thousands of people worldwide have shown their support for Manika’s achievement. The notable athlete has shared how she prepared for the difficult race on social media, undergoing an intense training process. Additionally, she shared the clothes she would sport for her big race and highlighted her experience while in Africa. Furthermore, she shared why she wanted to take on the unthinkable challenge.
After the super race, Manika rested at her home in Atlanta, Georgia.
Namibia natives were excited to see Manika become the first Black woman to complete the race.
