Published By: Sayan Paul

Sunita Williams' Birthday: The Indian-American Astronaut is the First to Run Marathon in Space - Did You Know?

For Williams, a marathon on Earth was just too mainstream.

Many people heard about Sunita Williams for the first time recently, as the Indian-American astronaut spent months aboard the International Space Station. But space enthusiasts have admired her achievements for decades. With numerous records to her name, she continues to inspire anyone who dares to dream big. So today, on her birthday, let's revisit one of her most extraordinary feats - becoming the first person to run a marathon in space.

When Sunita Williams Became The First Person To Run A Marathon In Space

A space marathon isn’t your typical road race. Rather, it’s a long-distance run performed aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronauts run on a treadmill while strapped into a harness to counteract the effects of zero gravity, simulating the effort of running on Earth.

Back in 2007, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams made history by running the first-ever marathon in space, in sync with the Boston Marathon.

Williams, then 41, had qualified for the elite Boston Marathon by completing the Houston Marathon in 2006 in 3 hours and 29 minutes. On the day of the Boston Marathon, she began running aboard the ISS, covering the full 42.2 kilometers (26.2 miles) on her treadmill. She later sent a message to Mission Control announcing her completion with an unofficial time of about 4 hours and 24 minutes, cementing her place in history.

(Credit: Bouteflikov)

But Why A Space Marathon?

The news of an astronaut running a marathon in space surprised many. After all, traveling to space itself is a monumental feat!

Speaking about the motivation behind her run during a NASA TV interview, Williams explained, "I think the idea came up because I'm a big proponent of physical fitness, and I just wanted to make kids aware that it is a necessary part of your life. I think if I could do something up here to show kids that it's fun and it's important, then maybe somebody will get off the couch and start working out."

(Credit: Admirable Women)

Some Fun Information To Know

While Williams ran, most of the six-person ISS crew at that time was asleep. Russian flight engineer Oleg Kotov came by a couple of times to cheer for her and capture some photos of this historic moment.

She took multiple breaks during her race to drink water, massage her legs, and adjust the harness to make sure she could keep running comfortably in zero gravity.

The treadmill she used, called the Treadmill with Vibration Isolation and Stabilization System (TVIS), is specifically designed to reduce vibrations that could affect the space station’s delicate instruments, making it safe to run even in orbit.

To monitor her health and endurance, Williams wore a heart-rate monitor throughout the marathon, showing that even in space, running a full marathon can push the human body to its absolute limits.

Nearly a decade later, in 2016, British ESA astronaut Tim Peake became the first man to complete a space marathon. He ran in conjunction with the London Marathon, covering 42 km (26.2 mi) in about 3 hours and 35 minutes, further proving that marathons in space are not just possible, but a remarkable way to connect with people on Earth.

Happy Birthday, Sunita Williams. You Are An Inspiration!