Woman makes history in gruelling desert challenge

A runner celebrated becoming the first woman to complete a new double marathon event in a desert.

Philippa Morris, 33, crossed the finish line after a gruelling pair of 26.2 mile-jogs across Wadi Rum, in Jordan, last month.

The architect, who works in Margaretting, Essex, said many of her fellow runners dropped out during the event due to soaring temperatures and fears about being alone in the desert.

She said she was "absolutely loving life" on the first day, but anxieties crept in on the second.

The Jordan Ultra Challenge saw competitors run two marathons in two days at the end of April.

The non-governmental organisation, which promotes long distance competitive and leisure running, confirmed to the BBC that Ms Morris became the first female to complete both runs.

The 33-year-old signed up for the event to "give me fear to train" and she raised money for a children's charity in the process.

"My experience from day one to day two was very different," said Ms Morris, who currently lives in Barkingside, east London.

"I initially embraced the atmosphere a lot and there were more of us running, so you were engaging with people, and I really enjoyed it.

"But the atmosphere that evening was diabolical. A lot of people had got heat stroke or were too anxious about running alone in the desert.

"The next day I carried a lot of other people's fears and became anxious."

Ms Morris completed the first marathon with a time of six hours and 52 minutes, before beating it by 24 minutes the following day.

She has since raised more than £2,800 for children's charity Ordinary 2 Extraordinary.

"It was quite an overwhelming thing and I ended up crying for quite a while before it sunk in," she added.

"It went from complete isolation to people everywhere congratulating me."

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