Pippa Middleton finishes first marathon

Pippa Middleton, the younger sister of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, completed her first marathon at the Safaricom Marathon in Kenya.

Pippa Middleton sister to Duchess of Cambridge Catherine Middleton, competes in the Lewa Marathon on June 27, 2015. pic.twitter.com/XU9LY9hD3e

— PippaStyle (@PippaStyle) June 28, 2015

The event takes place in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a park that is home to more than 100 rhinos, as well as herds of elephants, zebras and buffalo. Armed rangers, two helicopters and a spotter plane monitor the animal movements and ensure the safety of the 1,200 participants while they are racing.

Middleton ran a time of 3:56:33, not bad for above 30-degree temperatures and at altitude. Many have expressed confusion as to why Pippa would choose such a difficult course for her first marathon, however, her brother-in-law, Prince William, has been the Royal Patron of the race’s organizing body, Tusk Trust.

Middleton, an avid athlete, has competed in many endurance events in the last year, usually with her brother, James. Last year, they participated in the Race Across America, a cycling race across 12 states in support of various charities. In 2012, they raced a 56-mile Nordic ski race in Sweden in support of British children’s aid. Despite her previous athletic endeavours, the marathon was a “life box” which Middleton had yet to tick until now.