The 8 Heaviest Female Marathon Runners in The World

The marathon is an annual long-distance foot race that is 42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards) long. It is normally run on highways, although it may also be completed on trail routes. Running the marathon or following a run/walk strategy are both valid ways to finish it. There are separate spaces for wheelchair users.

 Every year, more than 800 marathons are held throughout the world, with the vast majority of participants being recreational athletes. Larger marathons, which may draw tens of thousands of participants, attract fewer competitors.

In this piece, we’ll be looking at the list of the heaviest female marathon runners in the world. Stay tuned to learn more:

1. Jennifer Smith

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Photo taken from korg.com

Smith’s final time was 11:50:36, even though she weighed 346 pounds at the start of the event. Smith lost about 40 pounds as a result of the increased physical activity she engaged in throughout her training.

Not only did she complete her first marathon, but she also unofficially set the record for the heaviest woman to ever run 26.2 miles when she crossed the finish line.

As of yet, the record has not been validated by Guinness, but Smith has collected all of the necessary evidence—videos, witness accounts, start and finish weights, and the race director’s contact information—and is prepared to submit the materials to the organization for certification.

2. Ragen Chastain

Ragen is a professional researcher, three-time National Champion dancer, and runner who devotes her time to writing and speaking on topics such as self-esteem, body image, and overall wellness.

She officially became the heaviest woman to finish a marathon when she weighed a little more than 288 pounds, and she hopes that the title will serve as an example to the plus-size population that there is no such thing as a physical barrier.

3. Paula Radcliffe

Paula Radcliffe Fastest Woman Front

Paula Jane Radcliffe MBE (born 17 December 1973) is a former British long-distance runner who has earned the Queen’s Award for services to sport. Her third championship is the London Marathon (2002, 2003, and 2005), and she has also won the New York Marathon (2004, 2007, and 2008), as well as the Chicago Marathon (2002, 2003, and 2005).

She was the previous fastest female marathoner of all time, setting the Women’s World Marathon Record in 2003 with a pace of 2:15:25 and holding it for 16 years until it was broken by Brigid Kosgei in 2019. She is one of the world’s biggest female marathon runners, weighing 119 pounds.

4. Jelena Prokopcuka

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Jelena Prokopuka is a former Latvian long-distance runner. She was born in Riga, Latvia, on September 21, 1976, and is most known for winning the New York City Marathon in 2005 and 2006. She was born in Riga, Latvia, on September 21, 1976.

She has six Latvian outdoor and one indoor record across distances ranging from 3000 meters to the marathon. Her husband, Aleksandrs Prokopuks, currently holds the men’s Latvian marathon record with a time of 2:15:56 hours.

She represented Latvia in track and field events at three Summer Olympics, in 1996, 2000, and 2004. She has competed in the Summer Olympics three times. She is also one of the world’s largest marathon runners, weighing 112 pounds at the time of her race.

5. Constantina Diță

Constantina Diță is a competitive triathlete who specializes in half-marathon and marathon distances, in addition to long-distance running. She was born on January 23, 1970, in the Gorj county settlement of Turburea.

She won gold in the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after taking bronze in the same event at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics.

She has also represented her country in the Olympics, most recently in 2000 and 2004. She is one of the world’s largest female marathon runners, weighing 106 pounds.

6. Yumiko Hara

Yumiko Hara is a marathon runner from Japan who participates in the Tokyo Marathon. She has represented Japan in two World Athletics Championships and has won marathons in Nagoya, Osaka, and Hokkaido.

She has also represented Japan in athletics at the Asian Games. She used to participate in 10,000-meter track competitions, but she quickly found that she enjoyed road running.

She set a personal best for a half marathon at the Miyazaki Women’s Road Race in 2002, coming third overall behind Mizuki Noguchi and Mikie Takanaka with a timing of 1:09:28. In 2003, she ran the Sapporo Half Marathon and finished in a time that was not far off her personal best (1:09:37), finishing second behind Catherine Ndereba, who set a race record.

She is also one of the heaviest marathon runners of all time with a weight of 108 pounds.

7. Susan Chepkemei

Susan Chepkemi Margaret Okayo 3rd 4th London Marathon 2005

Susan Chepkemei (born June 25, 1975, in Komol, West Pokot District) is a Kenyan marathon and 10,000-meter runner. After winning the Rotterdam Marathon and the Great North Run in 2001, she earned a silver medal at the World Half Marathon Championships in 2002.

She won a silver medal in the 10,000 m finals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. With a weight of 106 pounds, she joins the ranks of the world’s biggest marathon runners.

8. Deena Kastor 

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Deena Michelle Kastor, born February 14, 1973, is a long-distance runner from the United States. She held several American records, including the marathon (2006-2022) and many road events. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, she finished third in the women’s marathon, earning her a bronze medal.

She has also won eight national cross-country titles. Deena Kastor weighs 106 pounds and is one of the heaviest female marathon runners in the world.

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