70-year-old woman finishes 100-mile race with just 6 seconds to spare

 By 
Laura Vitto
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Gunhild Swanson broke a record on Tuesday when she became the oldest runner to cross the finish line at the 2015 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run at age 70. Swanson crossed the finish line just six seconds before the race's 30-hour cut off, meaning she took home one of the race's prized bronze belt buckles for her achievement.

The Western States run is a challenging trek along the Western States Trail in California, where runners climb more than 18,000 feet and descend 23,000 feet. It closes out at Placer High School in Auburn, California. This is Swanson's third time running the race, according to Runner's World.

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