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Ultrarunner Hit By Lightning Finishes In 3rd Place

SILVERTON, Colo. (AP) — Canadian ultrarunner Adam Campbell was over halfway through Colorado's Hardrock 100 endurance race when he was struck by lightning. Not only did he keep running, he finished the race up and down 13 mountain passes in the San Juan Mountains in third place on Saturday.

Adam Campbell Post-2014 Hardrock 100 Interview by iRunFarMedia on YouTube

Campbell told The Durango Herald that he and his pacer ran for the summit of Handies Peak, the highest spot on the 100-mile course, after seeing a break in the weather. As they climbed, he saw lightning start striking and said he was hit as soon as he reached the top, causing his headlamp to explode.

Adam Cambell
Adam Cambell (credit: Twitter)

Thunderstorms often develop in Colorado's mountains during the summer. The state averages three deaths and 15 injuries a year from lightning, usually ranking second only to Florida.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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