US Ultrarunner Jeff Browning Has Heart Attack During UTMB Race
Listen to the story
Jeff Browning, a well-known American ultrarunner, suffered a heart attack during a race in France. He is considered a veteran of the sport, with many years of racing experience.
The incident happened during the TDS race, which is part of the UTMB series of trail running events. UTMB stands for Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, and it takes place in the Alps near Mont Blanc.
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked. It can be very serious and requires quick medical help. The report does not give more details about Browning's condition.
UTMB events attract runners from all over the world. The races are known for being extremely long, often covering rough mountain terrain. Athletes must have strong endurance to finish.
In a separate race at the same UTMB event, French runner Sarah Vieuille won the Traces des Ducs de Savoie race. She completed the difficult course after 22 hours of effort.
Ultrarunning has grown in popularity in recent years. Races like UTMB test both the physical and mental strength of competitors. Injuries and health emergencies, though rare, can happen because of the extreme demands of these events.
Vocabulary7 words
- ultrarunner
- a person who runs very long distance races
- heart attack
- a serious problem where blood cannot reach the heart well
- veteran
- someone with a lot of experience in an activity
- UTMB
- a famous series of long mountain races in France
- terrain
- the type of land or ground in an area
- endurance
- the ability to keep doing something hard for a long time
- competitors
- people who take part in a contest or race
Quiz
Answer key
1. He suffered a heart attack 2. In France, near Mont Blanc 3. 22 hours
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Jeff Browning, a well-known American ultrarunner, suffered a _____ during a race in France. He is considered a _____ of the sport, with many years of racing experience.
The incident happened during the TDS race, which is part of the _____ series of trail running events. UTMB stands for Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, and it takes place in the Alps near Mont Blanc.
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked. It can be very serious and requires quick _____ help. The report does not give more details about Browning's condition.
UTMB events attract runners from all over the world. The races are known for being extremely long, often covering rough mountain _____. Athletes must have strong _____ to finish.
In a separate race at the same UTMB event, French runner Sarah Vieuille won the Traces des Ducs de Savoie race. She completed the difficult course after _____ hours of effort.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think ultrarunning has become more popular in recent years?
- What physical and mental skills do you think are needed to finish a race like UTMB?
- Do you think extreme sports events should have stricter medical checks for athletes? Why or why not?
- How do you think Jeff Browning's experience might affect other runners in the race?